Your Guide to Buying a Home in Miami, FL

Buying a Home in Miami, Florida

Miami is located in Miami-Dade County

Greater Miami includes all of Miami-Dade County, an area of more than 2,000 square miles. Residents and visitors enjoy plentiful green space and 84 miles of coastline. Skirting the southeastern shoreline is Biscayne National Park, a 181,500-acre marine area that includes Biscayne Bay and 44 keys (islands).

Everglades National Park occupies 695,310 acres of marshes, mangroves and hammocks in the southwestern quadrant and is one of the largest and most fascinating wilderness preserves in the nation. Currently 2.08 million residents live in Greater Miami. Of that number, more than one million reside in unincorporated Miami-Dade County with the balance residing in the county's 29 municipalities.

The City of Miami is the largest with a population of nearly 400,000, followed by Hialeah, Miami Beach, North Miami and Coral Gables. Hispanics represent 50 percent of Greater Miami's total population and blacks account for 20 percent. The single largest age group, ages 25 to 44, makes up 30 percent of the population. Throughout the past decade, Greater Miami's work force has grown younger (median age is 34.2) and more culturally diverse. This work force is particularly well suited for employment in today's internationally oriented industries.

The dynamics of conducting business in Greater Miami continue to evolve and expand, while the divisions between domestic and international markets begin to fade. Business development flourishes, with trade, services, manufacturing, real estate and construction sectors showing continued growth. Most local industries now include a global dimension, with business facilitated by telecommunication advances.

Greater Miami looks to the future with renewed intensity and expectations for continued development and prosperity. An important step in that direction came in 1999 when Miami-Dade County was awarded a federal empowerment zone designation to assist business to relocate or expand in specific urban areas.

Innovative and well-respected learning institutions provide this community's children and adults with the education necessary to perform the jobs of the 21st century. The Chamber emphasizes the value of rigorous education standards and works with others to achieve their implementation. Recognizing that education cultivates economic growth, training and degree programs are being tailored to meet the needs of targeted fast growth industries with higher paying jobs within the region. With the school age population growing, both public and private schools are building and expanding their facilities.

Education:

• Dade County Public Schools Calendar
• School Reports

Attractions:

• Actor's Playhouse
• Coconut Grove Playhouse
• CocoWalk
• Fairchild Tropical Garden
• Metrozoo
• Miami City Ballet
• Miami Seaquarium
• Movies
• Parrot Jungle
• The Biltmore Hotel
• Ticket Master
• Vizcaya

Community Resources:

• Miami Dade Government
• City of Miami
• Miami.com
• City of Palmetto Bay
• Village of Pinecrest

Media:

• El Nuevo Herald
• Miami Herald
• Miami New Times

Sports:

• American Airlines Arena
• Florida Marlins
• Florida Panthers
• Florida Tennis Association
• Miami Dolphins
• Miami Heat
• Miami Hurricanes
• Orange Bowl

Weather:

• Hurricane Centre
• Local Weather