Courtesy of Jorge Argota
Little Havana is a special place. Growing up in that area, I would frequently go to 8th Street, where, in the afternoon, people would play dominos and chess at parks. At night, there was more Cuban music and dance.
There were a bunch of Cuban restaurants, and thankfully, there still are. Even with all the new tourists, there is still that cultural vibe, just more commercialized.
At least for me, Little Havana has always been a place of culture, history, and community.
There aren’t a lot of Miami homes for sale that meet my needs and wants
I was hoping there still might be affordable homes in my budget in Miami, so I got prequalified for a home purchase a few months ago.
I was approved for a loan of up to $700,000 and was ecstatic, thinking, “OK, finally I can buy a house.” But I was wrong.
When browsing Zillow, I couldn’t find anything in my price range except for a house that looked like it had been through a battle. It was probably worth about $50,000 — maybe even less — 10 to 15 years ago.
Courtesy of Jorge Argota
I love the peace of mind that renting provides. I don’t have to manage repairs or worry about paying an electrician or plumber. I also don’t have to deal with maintenance, which takes up time.
It makes me think: How much is my time really worth?
If I want to buy a home, I may have to move
I just don’t have the flexibility, even with my income, to buy the kind of house I really want. It’s hard for me to fathom that people in my age group have that kind of money.
A buddy of mine owns an environmental company and earns more than I do, but he doesn’t own a home for the same reason.
I’ve also had many friends who have had to move further north in Florida because it’s impossible for them to pay rent or buy a home in Miami.
In the future, I definitely want a family and to be able to comfortably afford a home. So, if I can’t buy a house in Miami, I might consider moving to another state.
Miami is a nice place, but it’s not worth the price.