Where to live in Miami? Comparing Brickell, Downtown, and Edgewater

Brickel, Downtown, and Edgewater are the three most popular areas. Each of these neighborhoods has something unique when it comes to traffic, pedestrian accessibility, shopping, nightlife, and demographics, but ... where to live in Miami?

More and more young people are choosing the central area of ​​downtown Miami to reside. This area has a population of over 80.000 people (double the number just ten years ago, according to the Downtown Development Authority). This has caused an increase in the demand for rental apartments in Miami, while the supply of apartments remains practically the same as in the last half decade.

Recently, rental prices on Miami properties have increased dramatically by 5-10% per year. It's common for newcomers to Miami to experience a "tag shock" when they see the price of a studio and other smaller units in the central Miami area. And it is that in the future more new construction units will continue to appear on the market, which will increase the supply and should stabilize the rental price over time.

Given these circumstances, the deciding factor about where to live in Miami is largely based on personal aspects: some residents prefer to reside in an older and more affluent neighborhood, such as Brickell, while others may choose downtown and its proximity. When it comes to proximity to massive events, then Edgewater is the quintessential area. The general atmosphere of each area is a deciding factor when choosing a neighborhood.

Miami Areas Reference Guide

Brickell

Brickell has a large concentration of Argentine, Colombian, Cuban and Venezuelan residents of high class and higher education. Most are in the financial, legal and commercial sectors. Others live in Brickell part time. The presence of young professionals working in the area or in nearby communities such as Coral Gables or Coconut Grove is also high.

New condo construction has dominated this area in recent years. A variety of upscale restaurants, boutiques and retail stores abound in downtown Brickell. In addition, it is the area with the best walkability and access to public transportation in all of Miami. The biggest challenge for some is traffic congestion due to new construction.

Brickell's vision for the skyline and overall surroundings is an exclusive environment, where luxury renters and condo owners are allowed to live and enjoy a sophisticated Brickell lifestyle.

Explore more about Brickell and its available properties here.

Downtown Miami

Downtown or Downtown Miami includes the central business district and the Arts and Entertainment District. It is a very accessible neighborhood where most choose to run their errands on foot.

The area and interest is transforming due to projects such as the All Aboard Florida, Miami Worldcenter and the Flagler Street renovation. This makes the youngest want to rent a house close to the urban center of Miami. In addition, the latest changes in new construction zoning laws are driving rents down in price, further encouraging people to choose downtown Miami to live.

The Downtown Miami area has a mix of people from all over the United States, as well as international residents. The advantages of living in one of the Biscayne Boulevard skyscrapers is the easy access to Miami Beach, Brickell or Wynwood. On the other hand, we must also mention the high foot traffic of the events, the closing of the streets during certain weekends due to the events, a small homeless population and the not so good music of the Bayfront Park concerts.

Explore more about Downtown Miami and its available properties here.

Edgewater

The Edgewater area was once known for homelessness, gangs and drugs, but is now one of Miami's trendiest areas to live. It is located north of the city center, and is excellent for exploring its shops, restaurants and nightlife on foot. This area is popular for rental towers and condos.

Although the majority of new condos are located west of Brickell Avenue, at Edgewater you can also enjoy great views of Biscayne Bay and Miami Beach.

The recently completed Icon Bay and Bay House Towers have already lent an air of sophistication to this neighborhood and provide ample rental options for a tenant seeking unobstructed views of Miami Beach and privacy. When you take into account the already popular buildings of Cite, Paramount, Opera Tower, Quantum on The Bay and others, as well as the constant level of activity in Margaret Pace Park, you can see why this area is growing so rapidly.

Retailers already know that several new restaurants and boutiques are opening and many more are on the way. Residents planning to move to Edgewater can expect to see a much more walkable area.

There is also talk of a Biscayne line that is being promoted by a local developer. This would be a walkable boardwalk that would basically connect 195 to 395 and offer biking, dog walking, jogging, and more activities with the beautiful view of Biscayne Bay and Miami Beach buildings.

Explore more about Edgewater and its available properties here.