Though often overlooked and overshadowed by its pricier neighbors, Indian Creek Island, Bal Harbour and Surfside, Bay Harbor Islands has become increasingly more popular among South Florida buyers.
And, with Bay Harbor Islands approaching its 70th anniversary next year, I wanted to share a brief overview of one of Miami’s best-kept secrets and explore Bay Harbor Islands to discover what makes it such a great place to live in South Florida.
Staying true to its roots
In 1947, a U.S. Russian immigrant named Shepard Broad took the islands under his wing, overtime building out both islands into a giant, beautiful communities. As they came to life, modern design took center stage, transforming the islands into a now quaint, yet luxurious place only a 10-minute drive away from North Mainland Miami.
Bay Harbor Islands is often overlooked due to the abundance of focus on surrounding areas. Yet, the islands have some of the lowest price per square foot for luxury real estate; some up and coming luxury condos in the area start as low as $480 per square-foot.
The islands also represent a lot of what makes South Florida so special and unique.
While they are on the ocean, they are small enough in area to be considered a community; creating a tight-knit neighborhood for residents to reside, while still getting the added perks of waterfront views and high-end shops.
If you have children and/or are looking to start a family, Bay Harbor Islands also has one of the best schools in Miami-Dade County. Ruth K Broad Elementary School was ranked no. 2 for public schools in Miami, among all traditional Elementary, Middle, and K-8 Centers for its teaching excellence, scoring in the 91.0 state wide percentile.
Bay Harbor Island will continue to thrive
Earlier this month, a group of Bay Harbor Island East developers hosted an event where they showed off their current project to prospective buyers and interested parties. All those in attendance had the opportunity to interact and embrace the positive growth and atmosphere of the islands.
The event was first of its kind on the Island, and we are hoping to host more opportunities like this in the future to keep bringing businesses and the community together.
Once one of Miami’s best-kept secrets, Bay Harbor Island is now a breakthrough star in South Florida’s real estate market. With its luxurious and elite feel, and small community-centered vibe, BHI will undoubtedly continue to capture the heart of natives and newcomers alike.
Tim Lobanov is the managing director of the Verzasca Group. He has experience in the international real estate space, specifically identifying emerging market trends across both commercial and residential real estate.