On Memorial Day, we remember and honor the sacrifices of those who served to preserve our freedom. Deering Estate, a Miami-Dade County Heritage Park, is offering $8 general admission during Memorial Day Weekend, May 24-26 (Saturday, Sunday and Monday).
Bring a picnic and enjoy a relaxing day outdoors among the Royal Palm trees overlooking the quiet waters of Biscayne Bay. Guests can also enjoy a guided Museum Tour at 11:30 a.m., a Nature Preserve Tour at 12:30 p.m., and the Contemporary Currents Exhibition: “To Be Dwellers With This Land” by Pangea Kali Virga, inside the Richmond Cottage Garden Room.
Purchase tickets online at https://miamidadeparks.com and select the day(s) of your visit for reduced-cost general admission: $8 per person (ages 4 and older). Free for Deering Estate Foundation members and children ages 3 and under (membership cards must be presented at gate.
As part of Blue Star Museums, active duty military personnel, and up to five family members, receive free admission to Deering Estate this summer, from Armed Forces Day, May 17 through Labor Day, Sept. 1.
Deering Estate is located at 16701 SW 72 Ave. in Palmetto Bay.
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For more Miami community news, look no further than Miami Community Newspapers. This Miami online group of newspapers covers a variety of topics about the local community and beyond. Miami’s Community Newspapers offers daily news, online resources, podcasts and other multimedia content to keep readers informed. With topics ranging from local news to community events, Miami’s Community Newspapers is the ideal source for staying up to date with the latest news and happenings in the area.
This family-owned media company publishes more than a dozen neighborhood publications, magazines, special sections on their websites, newsletters, as well as distributing them in print throughout Miami Dade County from Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Brickell, Coconut Grove, Pinecrest, South Miami, Kendall, Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay and Homestead. Each online publication and print editions provide comprehensive coverage of local news, events, business updates, lifestyle features, and local initiatives within its respective community.
Additionally, the newspaper has exclusive Miami community podcasts, providing listeners with an in-depth look into Miami’s culture. Whether you’re looking for local Miami news, or podcasts, Miami’s Community Newspapers has you covered. For more information, be sure to check out: https://communitynewspapers.com.
Environmental Committee members pictured are (l-r): Dolores Dimitriou, Linda Wood, chair Ann Biegen, Hazel Bethel and Valarie Rodriguez.
The Cutler Ridge Woman’s Club (CRWC), which was founded in 1956 and is one of the oldest organizations in continuous operation in Cutler Bay, is actively working to help people in the community by participating in several projects. One of these involves a concern about the environment.
The CRWC Environmental Committee was recently was awarded a commemorative tree planting certificate for nature by the Arbor Day Foundation, according to Jeinan Tong-Noon, who lives with many of her friends and co-workers, the East Ridge at Cutler Bay retirement community.
“The Cutler Ridge Woman’s Club’s Environmental Committee has been working on a two-year tree planting project headed by our General Federation Women’s Club of Florida (GFWC FL),” Tong-Noon said. “The club donated 10 more trees in April, bringing club contributions to 132 of which 22 were planted and 110 were donated.”
Members of the Environmental Committee, chaired by Ann Biegen, are Dolores Dimitriou, Linda Wood, Hazel Bethel and Valarie Rodriguez.
The Arbor Day Foundation is a global nonprofit “inspiring people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees.” Along with its network, members have planted more than a half billion trees, focusing on areas where they can have the greatest impact on climate, communities and biodiversity.
Arbor Day this year was celebrated on Friday, Apr. 18. To learn more about the organization visit www.arborday.org/.
One of the club’s other projects, something they do every year to show support for the Cutler Bay Police Department, is to provide 40 teddy bears that had been bought by CRWC members. Officers carry a few of the cuddly toys in the trunks of their patrol cars so when they respond to incidents where small children are involved, the teddy bears can be given to the youngsters to help comfort them at difficult moments.
To join the CRWC send an email to president Jean Tong-Noon at Jtn193@gmail.com.
ABOUT US:
For more Miami community news, look no further than Miami Community Newspapers. This Miami online group of newspapers covers a variety of topics about the local community and beyond. Miami’s Community Newspapers offers daily news, online resources, podcasts and other multimedia content to keep readers informed. With topics ranging from local news to community events, Miami’s Community Newspapers is the ideal source for staying up to date with the latest news and happenings in the area.
This family-owned media company publishes more than a dozen neighborhood publications, magazines, special sections on their websites, newsletters, as well as distributing them in print throughout Miami Dade County from Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Brickell, Coconut Grove, Pinecrest, South Miami, Kendall, Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay and Homestead. Each online publication and print editions provide comprehensive coverage of local news, events, business updates, lifestyle features, and local initiatives within its respective community.
Additionally, the newspaper has exclusive Miami community podcasts, providing listeners with an in-depth look into Miami’s culture. Whether you’re looking for local Miami news, or podcasts, Miami’s Community Newspapers has you covered. For more information, be sure to check out: https://communitynewspapers.com.
On Jan. 7, 2025, I was honored to be sworn in as the first elected Sheriff of Miami-Dade County (MDC) in more than 60 years — overseeing the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, a constitutional office that is independent from county government.
Now, as we enter this new era, I am proud to share how, in my first 100 days, we began laying a strong foundation built on for pillars: rooting out public corruption, crime reduction, transparency and accountability and reshaping the Miami-Dade Office of the Sheriff.
From targeting public corruption and HOA/Condo fraud, to protecting our elderly residents and realigning our resources for greater efficiency, these first steps are only the beginning of a larger commitment to serve and protect the citizens of Miami-Dade County with excellence and professionalism.
I began my law enforcement career nearly 30 years ago out of a deep passion for helping others, and that has remained my driving force. I will work every day to protect our neighborhoods and ensure that everyone feels safe.
From Jan. 7 through Apr. 7, 2025, murders in unincorporated Miami-Dade County have decreased 22 percent, compared to the same time frame in 2024. Our Strategic Response Division has conducted several traffic enforcement details, resulting in 1,980 citations, 564 warnings, and 22 arrests. We’ve cracked down on the illegal use of handicap placards. Our Kendall District has spearheaded this enforcement, issuing citations and confiscating illegal handicap placards.
Following the brutal attack in Israel nearly two years ago, we’ve seen a disturbing rise in hate crimes. We will not tolerate antisemitism or hate in any form. We’ve increased police presence at houses of worship, conducted briefings on antisemitism, and hate crime prevention, and deployed additional security during holidays.
We had the privilege of speaking with hundreds of residents, from community leaders to retirees. We’ve gathered in cafes, churches, community centers, and other locations, talking about public safety concerns.
I’ve hosted several “Share with Sheriff Rosie” events to meet with the public. These events are invaluable, and I remain committed to listening, learning, and taking action. To be more accessible, I launched the “Ask Sheriff Rosie” tool on our website, giving you a direct line to share your questions, concerns, or ideas. Your voice matters and I intend to keep on listening.
We’ve streamlined how the public can report suspected cases of public corruption. We have established a dedicated hotline, an email address, and we have created a dedicated landing page with an online complaint form to report corruption.
We also streamlined the HOA/Condo fraud reporting process, making it easier to report these crimes directly to the investigators. It launched on Mar. 4, 2025, and within two weeks, we received 81 complaints. Our Real Estate Fraud Squad is investigating numerous reports submitted through our landing page, which provides citizens with additional resources, and they can request educational outreach.
I recently launched the “Senior Safety” public service campaign, which includes weekly videos educating the elderly on how to avoid scams and targeted crimes.
One of my key priorities as Sheriff is increasing transparency and accountability — and that begins with giving our community better access to information. We’ve launched a crime statistics dashboard on our website. It is available to the public and provides clear, year-by-year data on major crime categories.
A smooth rebranding of MDSO is underway, with projects on time and within budget. We’ve realigned our Table of Organization to strengthen our functions and street presence.
And while we continue working toward full staffing, strategic scheduling and smarter deployment of roles have allowed us to put more deputies on the streets, ensuring a stronger presence in our neighborhoods. We’ve ended the hybrid work policy for approximately 1,000 of our civilian employees. We believe working together fosters better responsiveness, stronger teamwork and greater success.
We have honored the proud legacy of the Miami-Dade Police Department, the foundation from which MDSO was built, by carrying forward its strengths while forging a new path as a modern, independent agency. Law enforcement is a constantly evolving profession and so too must we evolve and improve. Together, we will build a stronger, safer Miami-Dade for all.
ABOUT US:
For more Miami community news, look no further than Miami Community Newspapers. This Miami online group of newspapers covers a variety of topics about the local community and beyond. Miami’s Community Newspapers offers daily news, online resources, podcasts and other multimedia content to keep readers informed. With topics ranging from local news to community events, Miami’s Community Newspapers is the ideal source for staying up to date with the latest news and happenings in the area.
This family-owned media company publishes more than a dozen neighborhood publications, magazines, special sections on their websites, newsletters, as well as distributing them in print throughout Miami Dade County from Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Brickell, Coconut Grove, Pinecrest, South Miami, Kendall, Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay and Homestead. Each online publication and print editions provide comprehensive coverage of local news, events, business updates, lifestyle features, and local initiatives within its respective community.
Additionally, the newspaper has exclusive Miami community podcasts, providing listeners with an in-depth look into Miami’s culture. Whether you’re looking for local Miami news, or podcasts, Miami’s Community Newspapers has you covered. For more information, be sure to check out: https://communitynewspapers.com.
🎭 South Florida’s Comedy Calendar is back with another episode spotlighting this week’s must-see comedy events — and we’re joined by special guest Rolando Gomez, a rising comedian straight out of Homestead, FL! 🔥
Tune in as Rolando shares his unique journey from the 305 to the stage, repping his roots with every punchline. We’ll also break down all the comedy shows you need to catch this week across South Florida — from Miami to West Palm and everywhere in between.
🎤 Real stories. Local laughs. Rolando Gomez.
📅 Don’t miss your weekly plug-in to South Florida’s funniest spots and freshest talent.
South Florida’s Open Mic Spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/file/d/16yMSZ8qPlxeozLUaQaOIRDpKbD08AmCh/edit?filetype=msexcel&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaY6vNkkixh9LikPM6A9UAdGMSWLOTOx3ybWi-7xoNB0As61htBZnAXlZ-M_aem_N7g7RFE3OZBkdvykqyVirA
For more Miami community news, look no further than Miami Community Newspapers. This Miami online group of newspapers covers a variety of topics about the local community and beyond. Miami’s Community Newspapers offers daily news, online resources, podcasts and other multimedia content to keep readers informed. With topics ranging from local news to community events, Miami’s Community Newspapers is the ideal source for staying up to date with the latest news and happenings in the area.
This family-owned media company publishes more than a dozen neighborhood publications, magazines, special sections on their websites, newsletters, as well as distributing them in print throughout Miami Dade County from Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Brickell, Coconut Grove, Pinecrest, South Miami, Kendall, Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay and Homestead. Each online publication and print editions provide comprehensive coverage of local news, events, business updates, lifestyle features, and local initiatives within its respective community.
Additionally, the newspaper has exclusive Miami community podcasts, providing listeners with an in-depth look into Miami’s culture. Whether you’re looking for local Miami news, or podcasts, Miami’s Community Newspapers has you covered. For more information, be sure to check out: https://communitynewspapers.com.
If you have any questions, feel free to email Michael@communitynewspapers.com or Grant@communitynewspapers.com
Miami Community Newspapers is your go-to source for Miami community news, offering daily updates, podcasts, and multimedia content. Covering local events, business updates, and lifestyle features across Miami-Dade County, our family-owned media company publishes a variety of neighborhood publications both online and in print. Explore Miami’s culture through our exclusive community podcasts, magazines, and newsletters.
Photo and fabric installation by Dahlia Dreszer at “Bringing the Outside In” at Green Space Miami through May.
There’s an earthy smell when walking into “Bringing the Outside In” at Green Space Miami. The scent of dried flowers and plants lingers in the air, immediately setting the tone for an exhibition that’s both immersive and sensory.
Artist Dahlia Dreszer has transformed the gallery into a space that feels like part garden, part living room. At the center are fabric and plant installations, and most of the flowers are rescued, originally used at a wedding at the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM). Surrounding these are large-scale photographs, where flowers, plants, and textiles appear again, reinforcing the materials physically present in the space. The lively colors and detailed compositions create a strong visual impact.
One key element is a yellow armchair, which appears in several of Dreszer’s photographs. The same chair is placed within the gallery, inviting viewers to sit and engage directly with the environment depicted in the work. This small detail adds an interactive layer to the show, making it clear that this exhibition is meant to be experienced, not just viewed.
Dreszer, who was born in Colombia and raised in Panama, draws heavily from personal and cultural history. Many of the textiles included in the installation were passed down through her family, while others—specifically the molas, hand-sewn by Kuna Yala Indigenous women in Panama—connect the show to a broader cultural context. The elements underscore the exhibition’s themes of migration, heritage, and the preservation of identity across generations.
Photo courtesy of Dahlia Dreszer, Work made by Dahlia Dreszer using AI
The artist’s relationship with plants is also personal. Her name, Dahlia, comes from a family story: her grandmother used to send dahlia seeds to her mother while she was pregnant. In this context, the floral imagery throughout the show becomes more than just aesthetic, it’s tied to her origin.
The final (or initial, depending on how you go through the exhibition) section shifts into new territory. A collaborative photograph made with AI marks a clear transition from organic and handmade to digital experimentation. Viewers are invited to input their own phrases to generate similar images, a process that still has its technical flaws but points toward the growing role of AI in creative work.
There’s more AI. Visitors can interact with an AI version/clone of Dreszer. When I asked how it would respond to artists or journalists critical of AI in art, its response was straightforward: “AI is a tool, just like brushes to a painter. Their work is a collaboration.” While the technology is still glitchy at times, the inclusion of the AI clone presents like an intentional part of the project, an experiment rather than a polished final product, that learns as it interacts with the viewer.
In “Bringing the Outside In,” Dreszer not only examines the boundary between inside and outside spaces, but also between human and machine-made creation. The exhibition mixes cultural memory, natural materials, and emerging technologies to reflect the hybrid world we live in today.
IF YOU GO
What: “Bringing the Outside In” by Dahlia Dreszer
When: Noon to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday through May.
Where : Green Space Miami, 7200 Biscayne Blvd., Miami
Cost: Free
Information: 305-751-8816 or greenspacemiami.org
ArtburstMiami.com is a nonprofit news partner of WLRN, providing news on theater, dance, visual arts, music and the performing arts.
This story was originally produced by WLRN, South Florida’s only public radio station at 91.3 FM, as part of a content sharing partnership with Miami’s Community News. Read more at WLRN.org.
ABOUT US:
Miami Community Newspapers is your go-to source for Miami community news, offering daily updates, podcasts, and multimedia content. Covering local events, business updates, and lifestyle features across Miami-Dade County, our family-owned media company publishes a variety of neighborhood publications both online and in print. Explore Miami’s culture through our exclusive community podcasts, magazines, and newsletters.
WavebreakMediaMicro/stock.adobe.com Burgess says Florida will need 9.7 percent more teachers by 2031
State leaders are concerned about running out of teachers in Florida. Now, a bill intended to address that shortage has passed the House. It would begin the process of aligning the core principles, standards and content of Florida’s different types of teacher preparation programs.
“This bill is designed to help train the next generation of educators,” said Zephyrhills Republican Senator Danny Burgess, the bill’s Senate sponsor.
“I believe this bill is necessary because 1 in 10 Florida courses lacks a properly trained and certified teacher,” Burgess said. “Fifteen percent of courses in low-performing schools are taught by out-of-field teachers, and Florida needs 9.7 percent more teachers by 2031. But fewer college graduates are choosing the educational pathway through the traditional four-year degree program.”
Teacher preparation programs are accountable for producing teachers with the competencies and skills to achieve Florida’s education goals. They’re offered by public and private postsecondary institutions, public school districts and private providers.
At the same time, Burgess says, alternate paths to becoming a teacher are growing more popular.
“While this is a good thing, it also shows that the current system is considered a bit cumbersome, maybe not what those are seeking to pursue,” he said. “So, we want to look at ways to grow the desire to become an educator. Because we believe that it’s one of the most noble professions in public service.”
The bill requires the state Department of Education to develop a new Florida Teacher Excellence Examination. It also puts new core-curricula in place for teacher certification programs.
And it would create the competency-based Coaching for Educator Readiness and Teaching Program, known as CERT, as an alternative path to certification through on-the-job mentorship and evaluation.
And after the CERT program is implemented — which won’t happen until 2029 — it will replace two other professional competency programs.
“The implementation date for this new program is July 1st, 2029.”
Hialeah Republican Representative Alex Rizo, the bill’s House co-sponsor, says it’ll take years to do everything the bill requires.
“…and so we have lots of time to go ahead and make sure that everything is right before this plane that we’re creating in the hanger that we’re building from the ground up takes off and we land the current certification plane on July 30th of 2029,” Rizo said.
While the measure has bipartisan backing, some language in the bill sparked passionate debate on the House floor. It bans teacher preparation courses from teaching that systemic racism, sexism or other forms of oppression are inherent in the institutions of the United States.
Port Orange Republican Representative Chase Tramont [TRAY mont] taught history for 10 years and is now a pastor. He says he doesn’t think teacher training courses should include discussions of issues like systemic racism.
“And I remember the ideological training that I received when I was a schoolteacher in one of our mandated teaching training seminars. And if I didn’t have enough life experience under my belt and a rock-solid education and a true unfiltered and unbiased understanding of our history, I may have succumbed to some of those beliefs that were forced upon us.”
Miami Democratic Representative Ashley Gantt, an attorney, is also certified to teach history and English.
“And history was my favorite because you can’t change what happened,” she said.
She argues discussions on systemic racism, sexism and oppression have a place both in teacher training materials and in the classroom.
“You can’t. You can teach students how to look at it critically and how to make decisions based on what kind of person that they want to be going forward based on what has happened. And look at our country — Listen, I believe in the American Dream even though my people were once currency in this country.”
Despite concerns about that portion of the bill, the House passed the measure 84-27 on Tuesday. The Senate companion is on the special order calendar.
This story was originally produced by WLRN, South Florida’s only public radio station at 91.3 FM, as part of a content sharing partnership with Miami’s Community News. Read more at WLRN.org.
ABOUT US:
Miami Community Newspapers is your go-to source for Miami community news, offering daily updates, podcasts, and multimedia content. Covering local events, business updates, and lifestyle features across Miami-Dade County, our family-owned media company publishes a variety of neighborhood publications both online and in print. Explore Miami’s culture through our exclusive community podcasts, magazines, and newsletters.
Bystander to Lifesaver: American Heart Association and Rick Case Automotive Group join Fara Sax. Join Lawrence Franchetti, Chairperson of American Heart Association, (AHA) Rita Case, CEO & President of Rick Case Automotive Group, and Fara Sax as they discuss the “Anytime CPR” kits distributed through Miami-Dade and Broward County.
ABOUT US:
Miami Community Newspapers is your go-to source for Miami community news, offering daily updates, podcasts, and multimedia content. Covering local events, business updates, and lifestyle features across Miami-Dade County, our family-owned media company publishes a variety of neighborhood publications both online and in print. Explore Miami’s culture through our exclusive community podcasts, magazines, and newsletters.
Miami Community Newspapers is your go-to source for Miami community news, offering daily updates, podcasts, and multimedia content. Covering local events, business updates, and lifestyle features across Miami-Dade County, our family-owned media company publishes a variety of neighborhood publications both online and in print. Explore Miami’s culture through our exclusive community podcasts, magazines, and newsletters.
This satellite image provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, shows Hurricane Milton. (NOAA via AP)
A new poll conducted for MediaLab indicates that a majority of Floridians are concerned about worsening hurricanes and rising temperatures, and many of the state’s conservative voters are concerned that climate change is making the problem worse.
Asked whether hurricanes have become more destructive due to climate change, 62% answered yes. Nearly 90% of voters for former Vice President Kamala Harris agreed that climate change is impacting the intensity of our storms, while only about 40.6% of Floridians who voted for Donald Trump last November agreed with the same statement, underscoring the partisan divide on climate science. Independents were more divided: 63.6% said they believe climate change is contributing to hurricane severity, 19.1% said no, and 17.3% remained unsure.
The MediaLab poll, conducted in early April 2025 by Mainstreet Research in cooperation with Florida Atlantic’s PolCom Lab, showed that a relatively high percentage of Republicans in Florida are concerned about the impact of climate change on hurricane activity, in comparison to Republicans nationwide. For example, a Pew Research poll published in December found that “Republicans are far less likely to see a human impact: 20% say humans contribute a great deal to climate change.”
Dr. Kevin Wagner, the co-founder of PolCom Lab at Florida Atlantic University and a professor of political science, said that it isn’t surprising to see a partisan divide on this issue, and to see that Republicans in Florida tend to answer the question differently than their counterparts elsewhere. “People’s views are a product of their environment,”
“In Florida, where people experience the effects of hurricanes firsthand, voters may be more inclined to come to their own conclusions about storm intensity, regardless of their political affiliation,” said Wagner.
Florida is increasingly turning red as the GOP sweeps up in consecutive elections, and the Republicans now outnumber Democrats by about 1.2 million registered voters. But climate has been one area where Florida Republicans take a different view from their counterparts elsewhere in the country. A March 2025 poll by FAU’s Center for Environmental Studies found that 88% of Floridians agreed that climate change is happening, almost 65% said Florida’s government should do more to address the impacts of climate change.
Republicans in Florida are not as likely as Democrats to believe climate change is a problem, and these numbers reflect wider trends nationwide. A survey last October by Pew Research found that while 70% of Democrats say human activity contributes a great deal to climate change, Republicans are far less likely to see climate change as human-caused. Pew also found that Republican-leaning voters think climate policies “usually hurt the economy,” but 52% of Democrats and those who lean Democratic say they usually help.
The results from the MediaLab@FAU poll highlight a similar partisan divide, yet there is a strong overall consensus among voters that climate change is a factor in Florida’s extreme weather. With increasing heat and storm intensity, these findings indicate that climate resilience and mitigation strategies may be key concerns for many Florida voters.
Poll participants were also asked whether they were considering leaving the state, and if so, why. About a quarter of respondents choose climate-related answers, such as worsening hurricanes (16%) and extreme heat (11%). But these paled in comparison to the most common answer: cost of living (40%).
The MediaLab poll was conducted by Mainstreet Research between April 4 and 9, and posed questions about various topics to 961 voters across the state.
The survey included 961 registered voters statewide and was available in both English and Spanish. The estimated margin of error for the poll is +/- 3.2% at the 95% confidence level.
In conjunction with the poll, whose release coincides with the final days of Florida’s legislative session and first 100 days of the Trump administration, MediaLab’s reporters posed similar questions to average Floridians.
“I’ve seen research that shows increased rain, rising sea levels, warmer ocean waters and slower moving storms are all contributing to stronger and more damaging hurricanes,” said Victor Mendoza, a film teacher in Parkland.
Natali Velasquez, who works in primary education and lives in Coral Springs, said Floridians are probably seeing and feeling the climate shift more than others.
“Climate change is an increasingly pressing concern, particularly in regions like South Florida,” said Velasquez, 25. “Summers are becoming hotter and lasting longer. These shifts not only affect daily life but also contribute to a more intense hurricane season.”
Dr. Joel Lampe, a retired academic in Bible studies who lives in Clearwater, Fla., takes a longer view of the issue.
“I wasn’t around 300 or 400 years ago when hurricanes were still around and there wasn’t climate change, and there is evidence to support that there was quite a bit of destruction, especially with the Native American Seminole nation, who have great stories to tell about hurricanes that came through centuries ago,” said Lampe, 54. “How devastating were they compared to Helene and Milton? I don’t know, but I do believe there are incredible climate patterns that are from global warming.”
MediaLab@FAU reporters Jessica Abramsky and Kaden Horn contributed to this report
This story was produced by MediaLab@FAU, a project of Florida Atlantic University School of Communication and Multimedia Studies, as part of a content sharing partnership with the WLRN newsroom. The reporters can be reached here.
MediaLab is supported by a grant from Press Forward, a national movement to strengthen democracy by revitalizing local news and information.
This story was originally produced by WLRN, South Florida’s only public radio station at 91.3 FM, as part of a content sharing partnership with Miami’s Community News. Read more at WLRN.org.
ABOUT US:
Miami Community Newspapers is your go-to source for Miami community news, offering daily updates, podcasts, and multimedia content. Covering local events, business updates, and lifestyle features across Miami-Dade County, our family-owned media company publishes a variety of neighborhood publications both online and in print. Explore Miami’s culture through our exclusive community podcasts, magazines, and newsletters.
Tom Hudson/WLRN A for sale sign stands outside a home in a residential neighborhood in South Florida.
There were more homes and condos looking for buyers in South Florida last month than there have been in almost six years. The supply of houses for sale kept climbing as median condo and single family home prices kept going in opposite directions — condo prices are falling while home prices are increasing.
Sales of existing condos fell in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties in March. However, the pace of the decrease was less than in previous months.
It was a very choppy first quarter of the year for regional condo sales as new reforms took effect for older condominium buildings.
Areas with high concentration of condos have experienced the most significant drop in sales over the past year. Miami Beach, Aventura and Brickell have seen condo sales fall by five to over 20% in the first quarter compared to a year ago. However, median prices have not dropped off thanks to newer condo buildings that aren’t subject to some of the new laws passed in the wake of the Champlain Towers South condo building in Surfside in 2021.
Sales of condos in Pompano Beach, Tamarac and Sunrise in Broward County are down by about 10%. Median prices in these areas fell compared to last year as they are home to older condos that may be facing special assessments and fast rising monthly fees to comply with new laws.
Areas with high numbers of condo in Palm Beach County fared better. West Boca Raton saw an increase in closed sales. The market may have been helped by lower prices as median prices in these areas fell by at least 6% in the past year.
How have condo prices in your zip code fared?
Florida’s condo market has been undergoing a significant change as buildings older than 30 years are required to undergo a visual structural inspection. If engineers find any issues, a more in-depth inspection may be required and the building is likely to have to address the problems fast. It is not uncommon for that to require a special assessment. Such charges can weigh on a condo’s sale price and deter buyers. In addition, condo associations no longer are allowed to waive regular monthly assessments. Instead, associations must start collecting and saving money for a list of usual maintenance items. That has led associations to hike monthly fees, further dampening buyer interest.
While median condo prices have dropped for three consecutive months in Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties and remained flat in Broward County, single family home prices continue to remain at or near post-pandemic highs. The median price paid for a home sold in South Florida last month remained above $600,000 across the three most populous counties. The median price growth has slowed as more owners put their houses up for sale, increasing the selection for buyers.
“We need more inventory at key price points to satisfy out-of-state and global demand,” said Miami Association of Realtors Chairman Eddie Blanco.
The pace of single family home sales for between $600,000 to $1 million increased in Miami-Dade County. Sales of homes over $1 million Broward County were up 2%. Sales of homes at any price were up 2.4% in Palm Beach County.
It indicates what the Miami realtor’s group calls a balanced market for single family homes.
This story was originally produced by WLRN, South Florida’s only public radio station at 91.3 FM, as part of a content sharing partnership with Miami’s Community News. Read more at WLRN.org.
ABOUT US:
Miami Community Newspapers is your go-to source for Miami community news, offering daily updates, podcasts, and multimedia content. Covering local events, business updates, and lifestyle features across Miami-Dade County, our family-owned media company publishes a variety of neighborhood publications both online and in print. Explore Miami’s culture through our exclusive community podcasts, magazines, and newsletters.
Miami Community Newspapers is your go-to source for Miami community news, offering daily updates, podcasts, and multimedia content. Covering local events, business updates, and lifestyle features across Miami-Dade County, our family-owned media company publishes a variety of neighborhood publications both online and in print. Explore Miami’s culture through our exclusive community podcasts, magazines, and newsletters.
