Does anyone know anything about the Miami area? Where to live? Where not to live? My husband and I don't have kids, so the schools aren't important, but we do have 2 dogs, so we are looking for a house, not a condo. Thanks in advance!

Are you looking to move to downtown Miami or a suburb?Lived in Miami 2 years for grad school. Now live in downtown fort lauderdale going on 3 years.

I like the fort lauderdale lifestyle better, plus it is not as crowded. If you want Miami for sure then I suggest the Brickell area. Hollywood and pembroke pines are nice too if you dont mind more north of miami. As is Bal Harbor. It very much depends if you want a downtown condo/apt or a suburb home.

Ha missed the wanting a house part at the end. Then if that is the case how far from Miami down town are you interested in? People not from Miami will often consider Boca part of Miami when it is actually 30 north of fort lauderdale. Main reason for that question.

I would learn Spanish.

And learn to drive REAL defensively. That goes for everywhere in the state of Florida, but double for south Florida.

My overall suggestion...avoid Florida altogether. Its overtaken California as the home of the most loonies in the nation (just check the national news headlines any day of the week). Add in the inordinate amount of pillheads and methheads and trailer trash, freshwater you can't swim in because of gators, no discernible topography/landscapes just flat scrub brush and swamp, and suffocating humidity and heat 9 months out of the year, and you have one big cesspool.

As with most larger cities, much depends on how close you want to be to downtown. Real estate in Miami is ridiculous. Expect to pay well over $100/sf for an older (50s-era) home in a middle class neighborhood. There are many gorgeous neighborhoods around Miami -- in Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, etc. -- but unless you are already quite affluent or taking a job with a $500K/yr salary, forget about it.

You need to spend a weekend (or week) down there checking out the market -- it will be eye-opening and might give you pause to reconsider your house-only intentions.

Looks like we may be headed there next year and are in a similar situation to the OP. Any more advice from anyone that's lived there?