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Miami is quite the contradiction, a place of extremes. It's been made famous by its incredible beaches, the free-wheeling lifestyle of South Beach, its close proximity to the Everglades, and the easy access to the Keys. In terms of foreclosures, the area has the most of any place in Florida! It also has some of the poorest neighborhoods in all of south Florida, many of them riddled with crime and deplorable schools. While it boasts a large Latino community over fifty percent of the population is Latino there are also sizable white, African-American, Haitian, and Jewish segments to the area, and they tend not to blend, rather merely co-exist.

The art deco hotels and homes of the South Beach area are very popular and quite expensive over a million dollars is not unusual. This area also has some of the best shopping and restaurants of the city. On the other end of the spectrum are areas like Miami Shores, Allapattah, Liberty City, and Overtown. These are the severely economically depressed communities with poor homes mostly bungalows and small apartments and public housing, poor schools, and high crime, drugs and gang activity. While there are large numbers of homes available in these areas due to massive defaulting on loans, it's questionable as to their long term value.

If you want something more "middle of the road", the El Portal, Little Havana, Miami Springs, and North Miami
neighborhoods are ideal. These are middle class communities with nice-size single-family homes on quiet tree-lined streets. Little Havana is an incredibly vibrant area. The central part of the community is Calle Ocho and it has cigar factories, incredible food, and shopping. Unfortunately, these areas have also suffered the largest number of foreclosures. If you can get financing, great deals can be found throughout these areas.

Then there are the truly upscale areas of Downtown,
Brickell Avenue, Aventura, Bal Harbor, Coral Gables, and Coconut Grove. The first two have fantastic shopping, great food, and the central business and financial districts. Condos line many of the streets, and their prices are as high as the buildings; several million dollars for a three-two is not uncommon! If you prefer a home, Coral Gables has Mediterranean-style homes and plazas, and Coconut Grove boasts small Bohemian bungalows. Bal Harbor is the exclusive community of Miami; homes there cost millions and they look like it. Also, the high-end shops and luxury resorts are found here. Few of the homes are under foreclosure, but some are for sale at what they would call bargain prices.

In terms of what the city has to offer, the warm waters of the Gulf Stream flow by, and its wide, sandy beaches are a veritable cornucopia of recreational delights. There are multiple golf courses, concert halls, the theatre, symphonies, and cultural treats. Getting in and out of the area can be done via the highway or a plane through Miami International Airport. While some of the public schools are in poor shape, the area has Florida International University, and many other colleges that are outstanding. If you love sports, take your pick from baseball, football, and even jai alai, horse and dog racing. You can go gambling at the Seminole Indian casino, or get back to nature hiking, canoeing, or trekking about the Everglades National Park. Clearly, the area has potential; it all comes down to picking the right area to live in, and waiting for the economic downturn to right itself, which may take time.

Learn more about this author, Jane Buckley.
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