Where Should You Live in Miami Beach? Sunny Isles VS South Beach

So, you've narrowed your real estate search down to the Miami Beach area.  Now what?  There are actually a plethora of different areas within the market to choose from, depending on your lifestyle and your living preferences.  Located just 12 miles from each other are two of the most popular areas, Sunny Isles Beach in the north and South Beach in the south.  While both are oceanfront communities in Miami Beach, they are really very different, and understanding these differences can make it easier to decide where to live in Miami Beach.

Sunny Isles Beach is a market that is known for luxury.  In fact, the majority of the market is dominated by extreme luxury condominiums on the beach in Sunny Isles Beach.  Since Sunny Isles Beach is located on a strip of land that is really just one street, Collins Avenue, the market is actually more exclusive than South Beach, as it is much smaller, with a smaller availability of units for sale.  Even still, there are several communities in the area where you can find more affordable condos for sale in Sunny Isles, including The Aventura Beach Club, where units can be purchased for under $100,000.  These are becoming less and less available, as Sunny Isles is really focusing on cultivating its luxury real estate market.  The city is much quieter than South Beach, in all ways.  Not only is it much less touristy than further south down the beach, but it also does not have the same nightlife reputation.  It is further north, so there is much easier access to areas like Fort Lauderdale, and it is equidistant from both Miami International Airport and Fort Lauderdale International Airport, making plane travel quite easy.  Sunny Isles has top eating and shopping destinations, but fewer options than South Beach.  Some of the most popular choices for real estate include Trump Towers and Jade Beach or Jade Ocean.

South Beach is an internationally acclaimed city.  It draws millions of tourists each year, making for a dense environment where there is always something to do.  It is home to restaurants from world famous chefs, designer boutiques, and one of the most popular beaches in the world.  There are myriad cultural spots including theaters and museums in South Beach; and everyone knows that it one of the best locales for nightlife in the world.  Real estate in the area varies widely, from very affordable inland condos for sale in South Beach to multi-million dollar condos for sale in South Beach on the ocean.  The area is larger, so there are usually more condos on the market, often with more than 1000 for sale at all pricepoints.  Some of the most popular choices in South Beach are South Pointe Tower and Apogee.

Wherever you live in Miami Beach, you will be guaranteed to have an incredible life in a place where the sun is always shining!