A villa or condo in the Miami-Dade County area is a great investment opportunity for vacations, full-time living or possible rental income. This includes Miami Beach, the strip on the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) facing the Atlantic. Key Biscayne, the northern most island of the Florida Keys, is also part of this area.
Miami is served with an international airport with daily flights from London and European countries. The city has an international flair, lively night life and great dining and shopping.
Miami Villas
A villa is a single family stand alone home on a lot. The owner is responsible for maintenance of the entire property.
Miami and neighboring Fort Lauderdale area villas usually include professionally landscaped grounds with lush tropical vegetation and swimming pools with a hot tub spa. Some luxury villas have a tennis count.
Deluxe villa and condominium interiors usually include:
- Three or more bedrooms with walk-in closets and private bathrooms
- A master bathroom with a large walk-in shower and jetted tub
- Gourmet kitchens with granite countertops and the latest appliances
- Built-in wet bar with elegant wood and stone detailing
- Stone and hardwood flooring in addition to carpeting
Air conditioning and even heating are modern, energy-efficient systems. Heating is used occasionally during the winter months when temperatures drop into the mid-60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Villas have garages, usually attached to the home. The garages may accommodate up to three vehicles or trailerable watercraft.
Many of the elegant villas are on the ICW or the beach. Some ICW villas have private boat docks. The villas are often gated or within a gated community. The villas may belong to a homeowners association.
Both villas and condos can be found in communities designed around the Miami area’s famous golf courses.
Condominiums
A condo is an attached unit in a low-rise or high-rise building. There are many elegant condos located throughout the Miami and Miami Beach area affording fabulous views of the Atlantic or the ICW.
The condo owners are responsible for the care of their units. The condominium homeowners association owns the buildings and the grounds. The association is responsible for building and grounds maintenance. Each condo owner pays an annual fee to the association for the care of the building. A property management company is usually engaged under contracted to oversee the maintenance.
Miami condos have swimming pools, tennis courts, gyms and other amenities. These amenities are included with the purchase of the condo. Golf or country club membership is usually separate. Many condos also have security systems and front door or gate guards.
Condos on the ICW may include boat docks for an extra cost. Restaurants and other shops may be located at street level in multi-use condo buildings. Car parks are often in a separate area in high-rise buildings. Smaller condominiums may have parking available by each unit.
Condo units can be any size but two and three bedroom units with two or three bathrooms are standard. They are generally smaller than a villa. Condos usually have balconies or verandahs as the are they known in the South.
Rentals
Both villas and condominiums are generally available for rent. The homeowners association may control the options for condominiums in the building’s ”rental pool”.
Some buildings allow condos to be sold as timeshares where there are several owners for each unit. The owners divide their maintenance fees and time according to the purchase agreement. They may decide to rent their allocated time.
The Miami villas vs. condo decision is a personal one for buyers.
Prestige International will assist interested parties in finding the right property in all price ranges.
