MIAMI MOVING GUIDE
READY… SET… MOVING… IN THE MAGIC CITY
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Self Storage Guide
What to Know Before Moving to Miami:
Palm trees, beaches, and flip-flops…welcome to the multicultural experience and lifestyle of sunny Florida! Miami is a unique city with an interesting history, a growing present, and a promising future. Known as the “only city of the world that started as a fantasy,” Miami was founded in 1896 by businesswoman and property owner Julia Tuttle. A native resident of Ohio, Tuttle used inheritance money to buy a 600+ acre tract of land. Through a long sought after deal with Henry Flagler, the railroad executive of the Florida East Coast Railroad, her beloved investment was connected to the rest of the rail system. Her dream was to see her purchased land on the bank be turned into a thriving metropolis. This dream did come true, but at the expense of much of her land. Today you can visit her monument and celebrate her as the “Mother of Miami.”
Find All You Need to Know About Moving to Miami
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Places to Live in Miami
Along with the many beach-front condos and luxury resorts, Miami offers other residential options for those that choose a more “traditional” living space. The Greater Miami area, a major port city, continues to draw families to its resourceful and growing economy. Ranging from average salary-based homes to multi-million dollar estates, Miami offers a perfect place to establish your family. Here are some reputable subdivisions and neighborhoods that will provide your family with community, safety, and opportunity.
- Two-island community
- Island living with close commute to the mainland
- K-8 school and its own library
- Unique historical architecture
- $312,000 median purchase
- Over 70% lower crime rate than national average
- Located near the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves and Biscayne National Park
- Quiet and slower-paced community with one of the lowest crime rates of the Miami suburbs
- Served by the Miami-Dade County Public schools with several private school options, as well
- Home to The Falls, a unique outdoor shopping mall
- $312,00 median purchase
- 42% lower crime rate than the national average
- Miami’s original neighborhood
- One of the greenest parts of the city
- Home to several art galleries and historical museums
- More affordable than some of the other upscale neighborhoods
- $592,500 median purchase
- Over 20% lower crime rate than the national average
- Close access to the Everglades and wildlife parks
- Once known as a horse-raising community
- Convenient access to the Palmetto Expressway and Okeechobee Road…both main corridors to downtown Miami
- %148,000 median purchase
- 10% lower crime rate than the national average
- Its name is derived from a street name
- Much of the main road is covered with a Banyan tree canopy
- 65% of its residents were born outside of the United States
- Noted for its international flair, decorative street art, and historic architecture
- $311,000 median purchase
- Approximately 10% lower crime rate than the national average
- Condominium living at its finest
- Short commute to beach and amenities
- Private beaches and private access communities provide low crime rate
- Oleta River State Park and Aventura Mall provide wildlife, adventure, shopping, and dining
- $316,000 median purchase
- 41% lower crime rate than the national average
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Economy and Job Market in Miami:
Most of Miami’s economic success has been based solely on tourism. Thousands of snow birds flock to the south during the winter months, driving up the profits for hotels, restaurants, retail stores, and rental properties. However, that phenomenon is no longer the norm. A 2003 record shows that 10.4 million overnight guests flooded the greater Miami-Dade region, boosting sales with $9.9 billion in direct expenses such as lodging, dining, and shopping. Another $5.5 billion was spent in indirect expenditures, such as medicine, real estate, and retail.
In recent years, Miami’s economy has shifted to a more diversified spectrum. Its close proximity to the Caribbean and to Latin America make it a valuable and vital center for international trade. This “Gateway to the Americas” is home to healthcare, aviation, education, and utility employers. Baptist Health South Florida currently employs 11,400 people, ranking it the highest healthcare organization in the region. The Miami International Airport allows American Airlines to boast an employee roster of 11,000, and the University of Miami covers a wide range of learning fields with its 12,000 employees. It is the Florida Power & Light Company that provides employment to roughly 3,000 professional electricians and maintenance persons.
Economic policies on both the state and city level have allowed Miami to rank among the highest international banking cities. It is led only by New York City and Charlotte, North Carolina. Miami has enjoyed massive building projects, both housing complexes and city offices spaces, and has seen substantial growth.
The assumption that Miami’s tourism is its highest form of income is correct. With its amazing tropical weather and the world’s largest cruise port, tourism accounts for thousands in the Miami-Dade region. It is estimated that 22 million people fly into Miami International Airport and over 5 million cruise-bound tourists board cruise liners in the Miami Port.
Education in Miami:
Miami has just under 500 schools spending around $9,000 per student. Although this number sounds astronomical it is slightly lower than the national average of $12,000 per student. Ratio of teacher to students hovers right around 1:17. These numbers are averaged between 310 public schools and 158 private schools.
Rated with an A+ by Niche, iPrep Academy soars at the top of the list as #1 ranked public elementary school. Coming in as #2 is Henry S. West Laboratory School. This highly rated K-8 public school is located near Coral Gables and serves roughly 400 students. Both reading and math scores are in the high 90th percentile.
With an 11th and 12th grade student body of 232, School for Advanced Studies-South ranks as the #109 best public school in America, and provides great learning opportunities for young people in the Kendall area. Its exceptional college prep courses ensure student success and credit the school with 96% AP enrollment, an average SAT score of 1320, and an average ACT score of 29. Ninety-five percent of these students graduate to continue their educational career at University of Florida, University of Miami, or Florida International University.
Coral Reef High School is a magnet school rating #5 in the state. With over 3,300 students, Coral Reef scores As in academics, teachers, health and safety, college prep, diversity, and clubs and activities, proving that it truly has the students best interest in mind. Eighty-nine percent of its student body is proficient in reading and 85% is proficient in math. Students graduating from Coral Reef often attend Florida State University, Florida International University, or University of Florida.
Florida International University, with a price tag far below the national average, offers financial aid to 89% of its student body. With an annual price of $9,000 after financial aid, most students here study psychology, liberal arts and humanities, or communications.
The University of Miami ranks #5 for best colleges in kinesiology and physical therapy in America, and #5 for best colleges for sports management in America. Far above the national rate of $15,000 annually, University of Miami comes in at $43,000 a year. They have a 29% acceptance rate and provide 72% of the student body with financial aid. The most popular majors are nursing, finance, and economics, and many of these graduates find a median salary of $60,000 just six years after graduation.
Many of these graduates are able to circulate into the economy providing beneficial support to the healthcare systems and financial institutions.
Things to Do Miami:
While cruising is a main draw into the city, it is not the only form of entertainment. Colorful umbrellas and tanned guests line the white, sandy shoreline of South Beach. Salsa and Tango themes ring in the air of trendy restaurants and bistros. Enjoy the Cuban culture as you walk the halls of art museums and the streets of Latin American neighborhoods. Many buildings and streets are decorated with sculptures and paintings pointing to the heritage of a rich, colorful, distinct culture.
Not all Miami adventures are found on a cruiseliner. There are many other activities that are sure to heat up your itinerary! Explore wildlife zoos and the exciting Everglades. Visit the Monastery Cloister, one of the oldest buildings in the western part of the city. Visit Little Havana to get a taste of dark Cuban coffee or taste some spicy, Cuban cuisine.
Sunbathing and boat touring on the sunny days and shopping and museum hopping on the rainy days. Here are a few great places to visit in the Miami region:
- Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
- Bayfront Park
- Biscayne National Park
- Venetian Pool
- Millionaire’s Row
- Wynwood Walls
- Lock and Load Museum (rated #1 of 71 museums in Miami)
Sports in Miami:
The Miami-Dade region houses five major league sports teams. The Miami Heat, the city’s NBA team, plays within the city limits at the American Airlines Arena. The Miami Marlins, the MLB home team, schedule their home games to be played at Marlins Park. This famous ballpark is located in Little Havana, the original site for the Orange Bowl stadium.
Miami entered the AFL scene with their very own Miami Dolphins. Although a tropical region known for its warm temperatures, flip-flops and beach shirts, the Florida Panthers bring fame to the city by playing in the National Hockey League. And on the professional soccer playing field, David Beckham leads the newly formed Inter Miami CF of the National Soccer League.
Miami also hosts a myriad of other sporting events including professional tennis, Nascar racing, greyhound racing, and horse racing at the Tropical Park Equestrian Center.
Transportation in Miami:
Miami International Airport
Located on over 3,000 acres of land near downtown Miami, and offering more flights to Latin America and the Caribbean than any other US airport, the Miami International Airport is one of three airports that serves the local residents and world-wide travelers. Fly out on one of the 1,000 daily flights giving you choices to travel to any one of their 167 domestic or international destinations. MIA and related aviation industries contribute over 275,000 jobs both directly and indirectly to the city’s economy. Considering Miami’s population, one out of every 4.6 jobs is related to the aviation industry.
Metrobus, Metrorail, Metromover
The mass transit system in the Miami-Dade region consists of four main branches: the Metrobus, the Metrorail, the Metromover, and the Special Transportation System. These four units work together connecting people to places in a highly efficient and effective manner.
Serving the community from Miami Beach through Broward County and the Middle Keys, the Miami Metrobus provides transportation to shopping centers, hospitals, business centers, schools, and cultural centers. Payment options include both contactless payment and cash. All buses are equipped with bicycle racks.
Providing service to Miami International Airport and running from Kendal through South Miami; the Civic Center and the hospital; and Brownsville, the 26-mile dual track Metrorail provides an enclosed commute to passengers traveling through the Miami-Dade region. Internal bike storage on new rail cars, and easy app or cashless payment cards make this system convenient and user friendly.
The Metromover is a free service that provides transportation seven days a week to the downtown and Brickell area. Among the stops are American Airlines, Miami-Dade College, Miami-Dade county School Board, and Bayside Marketplace.
The Special Transportation System is a unique service that provides transport around the clock for those needing special physical assistance. Door to door service is available, allowing customers to be picked up from their residence and dropped off at their specific location. The STS is in compliance with all regulations that the city of Miami requests in providing this communal service.
As with any other busy metropolis, you will find a host of taxis and shuttles. Most companies offer transit to and from the airports and hotels, but the service is also available for daily business commutes.
Major highways in Miami include I-95 and Route 1, with I-95 being the most congested during the morning and evening commute hours. Locally it is used to travel from Miami to Broward County.
Traveling to the airport is a breeze when using the Airport Expressway (SR112). Paying a $1.25 toll fee or using your SunPass gains you access to this smooth and convenient expressway.