Beginners’ Guide to Miami Beach – Part One: Orientation

Welcome to Miami! Bienvenido a Miami! So Will Smith says in his 1998 smash hit. In this article, we’ll be taking a brief look at the various different neighbourhoods in Miami Beach. Over the next few months, we’ll explore each one in more detail in an occasional series of articles, mixed in with the usual lifestyle and real estate articles that you’ll find in this Miami Beach blog. We’ll start the Guide with an introduction to the city that has become known as “The Billion Dollar Sandbar.”

Miami Beach is an island separated from Downtown Miami by Biscayne Bay, which merges with the Atlantic Ocean. The first road bridge from Downtown Miami was built in 1913 by John Collins. Now there are five road bridges connecting Miami Beach with mainland South Florida. The sea waters surrounding Miami Beach are probably the cleanest and clearest in the US, despite the Port of Miami in Downtown Miami being one of the busiest cruise and cargo ports in the country. Dotted in the ocean around Miami Beach are exclusive and star-studded islands full of super-exclusive luxury houses, such as this spectacular home sold earlier this year for $9.35m, and 'The Villa Stella' on sale now.

Miami Beach has been built on international trade, immigration, fashion and tourism. Founded in the late 19th Century, some of most historic buildings in Miami Beach can be found in the historic Art Deco district dating from the 1920’s, when it became a playground for the rich and famous for the first time.

An influx of Jewish immigrants has also shaped the Miami Beach of today. During the mid 20th Century, there was enforced segregation, where Jewish people were only allowed to live in the area south of 5th street, sometimes known as SoFi. The area developed a strong Jewish identity, and as time has passed, the area has transformed into one of the most desirable locations to buy real estate, with luxury buildings such as The Apogee and The Continuum.

South Beach is probably the most famous part of Miami Beach and includes the Art Deco district and SoFi, as well as all other areas South of Indian Creek at around 23rd Street. Famous for photogenic glamour at the beach and also the world famous Ocean Drive, South Beach is the centre of fun and nightlife in Miami Beach. The area has grown in popularity from the 1980’s onwards when the hit TV series Miami Vice, followed by the inaugural Winter Music Conference and the relocation of several international model agencies, re-established Miami Beach as a place where the beautiful people come to have fun in the sun.

Mid Beach is quieter than its raucous southern neighbour and has become a popular residential area. Famous for spectacular hotels such as the Fountainbleau, Mid Beach was also the location of the The Jackie Gleason Show in the 1950’s.

North Beach stretches from 63rd Street upwards and includes Bal Harbour, with its designer shopping mall and ample mooring for your luxury yacht!

We hope you enjoyed this basic introduction to Miami Beach. We will look more closely at the various residential districts of Miami Beach over the next few months. So watch this space!

Kelly Charles is a licensed Florida Realtor working in Miami Beach. She specialises in helping overseas investors enter the Miami real estate market.

www.BritishMiamiRealtor.com

Spinning the Green Wheels of Steel in South Beach

Miami Beach might be famous for its flash cars and yellow Ferraris. But residents and tourists have been discovering some lean and green ways of getting around South Beach.

Deco Bikes have been popping up at stations all around Miami Beach since March 2011. Deco Bikes is a cycle rental scheme operated by a private company that shares its profits with the City. Bikes are docked at stations dotted around the city, with maps and smartphone apps available to help users find their nearest Deco Bike. Tourist tariffs range from $5 per hour to $30 for a 3-day pass. Residents can subscribe to use the bikes for $15 per month.

Municipal bike rental schemes have been growing in popularity across North America and Europe. The largest and longest established scheme is in Paris, where there are over 45,000 bikes. London’s scheme has been running successfully for about a year and has over 6,000 bikes. Londoners have taken the bicycles to their hearts, nicknaming them “Boris Bikes”, after the city’s eccentric Mayor.

The Deco Bike scheme is small in comparison, with just 200 bikes initially. However, with Miami’s fabulous climate, fitness culture and flat topography, people will definitely want to spin some green wheels of steel!

While we are on the subject of Eco-friendly ways of getting around Miami Beach, how about grabbing a free ride around town?

That’s right; Swoop Miami will pick you up and take you where you want to go in South Beach for free. Just tip the driver. The cost of the vehicle is covered by advertising. Swoop is green too, as it’s a shared ride service and all its vehicles are electric.

The drivers like to attract attention with vibrant music and cheerful shouts of “Swoop Swoop” to passers-by. So one thing’s for sure, you’ll arrive at your destination in some style - the perfect way to start a night out in the fun and glamour of South Beach!

Kelly Charles is a Realtor in Miami Beach - if you are interested in buying, selling or renting in this wonderful tropical beach town, Contact Kelly here.

www.BritishMiamiRealtor.com

Happy Birthday Ma’am!

Celebrations of the Queen’s Official Birthday are big business on both sides of the Atlantic!

In London, we saw Prince William take part in the Trooping the Colour parade in full military regalia to celebrate his grandmother’s 85th birthday, which comes just a day after the Duke of Edinburgh’s 90th Birthday. Thousands of people packed the streets around Buckingham Palace to watch the lavish spectacle, with a history of more than 250 years.

In Miami, the British-American Business Council (BABC) is hosting a Gala Event on Saturday 18th June at the Conrad Hotel to commemorate the landmark occasion. The Miami chapter of BABC provides its members with opportunities to promote their business and make valuable contacts in a series of educational, networking and social events.

The event promises to be a lavish and very British affair. Bombay sapphire gin and tonics will be available on arrival. Dinner will be prepared by renowned British Chef Jonathan McCann and accompanied by complementary wine and specially-imported Welsh spring water. After dinner entertainment includes a live auction for transatlantic business-class flight ticket, with a silent auction for other goodies, followed by dancing to music from the Miami Blues Band.

Her Majesty will be represented by the Guest of Honour, Consul General, Kevin McGurgan and his wife, Victoria. It will be a fantastic opportunity to experience Great British hospitality and to network with all manner of interesting people. Tickets cost $125 per person, available via the Miami BABC website.

If you are a Brit looking for your own palace in Miami, why not contact Kelly, the best British Realtor in Miami!

www.BritishMiamiRealtor.com

Buying Residential Real Estate in Florida from Overseas – Part Three: Life with Your New Home

Welcome back to the final part of our series of articles about buying your dream home in Florida! In this article, we will be looking at the best ways of generating rental income and becoming a Florida resident.

Renting Out Your Property
Generating a rental income in the Florida sunshine is an attractive option for overseas investors. In Miami Beach, the type of rental income you can receive depends on the rules and regulations of the condominum building you choose. Most condos permit annual rentals, some allow six-monthly rentals but very few have more lenient rental policies.

Therefore, unfurnished, long-term rentals is the easiest rental market to target in Miami. Current rents start at around $1,500 for an unfurnished one-bedroom apartment to as much as $12,000+ for a bling-tastic ocean-view fully-furnished two-bedroom condo in a luxury building such as Il Villaggio.

As an overseas investor, you will find it useful to use a local agent to find tenants for your property. A licensed Realtor will typically rent your apartment in return for 10% of the gross lease. Utilities such as electric, gas, cable television and internet are usually covered by the tenant. You will normally need to pay annual property taxes, mortgage payments and condo maintenance fees.

Becoming a Legal Alien
If you are coming to the US from overseas, then your visa status is an important consideration.
Nationals of participating countries will be able to enter the US as a tourist for 90 days under a Visa Waiver. Go to the ESTA website for a current list of participating countries and how to apply. If your country does not participate in the ESTA scheme, check with your local US consulate or embassy for more details about getting a US visa.

Depending on your nationality, you may be able to obtain an extended tourist visa for up to 6 months to cover your stay in the US. Extended tourist visas need to be obtained before you arrive in the US. The days when you could pop over the border to Canada or Mexico to extend a tourist visa are over.

Remember that if you come to the US as a tourist, you will not be able to work and, if caught, the penalties for doing so are severe. Common ways of obtaining a US work visa include making a significant investment in an eligible business, transferring internally to a US office of an international company, or marrying an American. People of certain nationalities are eligible to participate in the annual US Green Card Lottery scheme. Unfortunately, British Nationals are ineligible at present.
The immigration process can be complex, and you may find it beneficial to seek advice from a reputable immigration lawyer.

Making Florida Connections
Foreigners have been coming to live in Florida for years. You can learn so much by speaking to people who have made the big move before you. There are communities of expats from many different countries all across the state. There are many internet forums for expats of all nationalities living in Florida, such as Internations and Britishexpats.com.

The best networking events for British and Irish expats in Miami are organised by Patricia at Britishflorida.com. They have a subscription service that can help you find the right visas and investment opportunities in the state and an email bulletin of jobs, flight deals and upcoming events.

Conclusion
We hope that our articles over the last three weeks have given you a good insight into the process for buying Residential Real Estate in Florida. If you’re feeling inspired to start your property search, why not contact Kelly Charles, a British Realtor who knows how to help overseas investors find their perfect piece of Florida paradise?

Kelly Charles is a licensed Florida Realtor working in Miami Beach. She specialises in helping overseas investors enter the Miami real estate market.www.BritishMiamiRealtor.com