Midtown vs Brickell vs North Bay Village (Miami, Key Biscayne: short sales, foreclosures)

[nat1128]

I'm a 30-year-old professional woman looking to move to Miami, but I need help choosing a location. I've narrowed down choices to the following: Midtown (I really like the artsy, design area coupled with the mixed-use development); Brickell (I've been told this is one of the best areas to live in, as it's centrally located to most places in Miami, not to mention there are lots of young professionals); North Bay Village (The views from most of these condos are breath-taking, and it seems as though you get more for your money – lower prices, more square footage).

Space is a bit of a concern for me, as I will need a home office. I’m also concerned about some of the higher prices. Not too sure that I want to spend that much on a rental.

What are your recommendations? What are pros and cons of each of the abovementioned areas? All advice is welcomed. Thanks![/font]

[Coconut1]

Midtown is nice as long as you stay East of NE 2nd Ave (with the exception of the new Midtown Miami shopping center by the Julia Tuttle) You can also get more condo for the dollar (in most buildings) then you can in Brickell. Views in Midtown can also be nice since there are less buildings there. Just keep in mind that they might not always be there.

You have limited Metro access in Midtown unless you live South of NE 19th Street. If you do live South of NE 19th Street and North of the MacArthur Causeway, you can hop Metromover at Omni Station and get downtown, to Brickell, or any place along the Metrorail line.

Midtown is still rough around the edges West of NE 2nd Ave. I wouldn't go walking around there at night.

Brickell is nice, but can be overpriced, especially in this market. This is a more exclusive area than Downtown or Midtown. Think more uptown NYC in terms of being upscale, minus a lot of the hustle and bustle. The good news in Brickell is you have easier access to more Metromover stops, and also have a Metrorail stop there as opposed to having to connect to Metrorail from Metromover. You're also closer to the Rickenbacker for access to Key Biscayne and the beautiful Bill Bags State Park.

I'm not too familiar with North Bay Village besides the condo buildings are usually older and cheaper. I don't think it's a bad place to live.

You might also consider Downtown (in between Midtown and Brickell) as there are plenty of condo buildings there and it's priced fairly well. You're also in an area that is really the heart of Miami since it's got easy and direct access to both Midtown and Brickell. I happen to really love Marina Blue. I wish it was a little closer to the center of Downtown, but the views are just great looking.

If you're willing to go to the Northern tip of Midtown, try looking at Blue on the Bay. I also really like the architecture of that building. Very pretty. Note that a lot of the units in that building are either short sales or foreclosures, though.

[nat1128]

Thanks for all of the info! This is very helpful! I, for some reason, thought Midtown and Downtown were the same. I like the area just across from the new park (where Marquis is located). That's downtown, I think. Have you heard anything about Everglades on the Bay? I've seen some REALLY great deals on those units. I know someone who lives in Marina Blue. The views are gorgeous, but I hear the walls are SUPER thin and the cable service provided is horrible.

[Coconut1]

Well, they are the same in that it's contiguous land, unlike Downtown and Brickell being separated by the river, but the divide between the two is the MacArthur Causeway.

Marquis is right across from Bicentennial Park which is actually not open. This is where the proposed Museum Park will be (park space and a couple museums, pretty cool) It's also near the Bicentennial Park Metromover station (also currently closed) so if Miami gets the new park rolling along, this will be a very hot condo complex in the future, IMO.

I've heard about Everglades on the Bay, but just by name. I'll have to take a look at the prices... I always like a good deal!!

Thanks for the info. on Marina Blue walls. The views do look stunning.

[Coconut1]

Although a little over a year old, it looks like Everglades might have some nasty tumors present:

Nearly complete, Everglades on the Bay is swamped with issues - South Florida Business Journal:

http://www.miamiherald.com/2009/08/21/1195636/everglades-on-the-bay-developer.html (broken link)