Why Did I Pick This Area?

I've received a few emails and messages asking me why I decided to buy in the area of Florida I did - and more to the point, where is this area?

So let me reveal that I bought in the Hollywood/Dania Beach area.

Why Did I Buy There?

For many reasons! Here's why:

• It's an area very well known to me and my parents, as we've holidayed many, many times in that region over the years. As such, if we bought there, we could literally pick up the keys to the flat and "go". We'd already know where all the local supermarkets and shops where, how best to get there, how far the beach was...
• Speaking of beaches, the closest beach - Hollywood Beach - is only a 5 minute drive away, or a 15/20-minute walk away. And it's an absolutely lovely beach: lively, but never too crowded (even on weekends); plenty of facilities (parking, picnic spots); a fair amount of shops, restaurants and cafes; the Hollywood Beach Theater, which provides shows 3 nights a week; and, best of all, the famous broadwalk - perfect for walkers, cyclists and rollerbladers. Hollywood Beach has been declared by local media the best beach in southeast Florida a number of times.
• It's incredibly easy to reach. Miami International Airport is only a 40 minute drive away. Better yet, Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport is only a 15 minute drive away. The I-95 highway, which stretches all the way from Miami to Maine, is only a 5-minute drive away.
• It's even possible to visit here for a long-weekend from the UK. Nine hours on one of the numerous flights from the UK to Miami, and then a quick drive on the I-95 highway...and I'm already sipping a nice, cold drink on my holiday home's balcony.
• Local public transport is top class. The bus network is very extensive. There are buses to...everywhere. Not the case for other parts of Florida! Bus travel is cheap - a single ticket costs $1.25, or $0.60 for the over-65s. A weekly ticket, offering unlimited travel, is $11. You also have the Tri-Rail, a train service which connects Miami Airport to Palm Beach, with stop along the way. There are frequent trains at peak times. Again, tickets are inexpensive: only $3 to get to Hollywood/Dania Beach from Miami Airport.
• There are three big cities in the area: Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood. Four, if you include Palm Beach (about 60 miles away). So there's plenty of cultural activities, entertainment, clubs, bars, restaurants and so on. South Beach, on Miami Beach, is less than 30 minutes away by car. Shopping in the region is also first class. At the last count, there were 19 malls in the area including the world-famous Sawgrass Mills, and the classy Aventura Mall.
• Very importantly, there are also plenty of local amenities. I can easily walk to my local supermarket (Publix), pharmacy (Walgreens) and some more shops - including three or four restaurants. This isn't a part of Florida where you have to drive absolutely everywhere - even if you only want to pick up the daily newspaper or a coffee. My parents, who are retired, often don't even rent a car when visiting, preferring to rely on public transport.
• For you Anglophiles, there's even a British pub in Dania: The King's Head. Serves fantastic fish and chips!
• There are two nature parks very close: West Lake Park (which has sporting facilities - tennis, canoeing, paddle courts) and the beautiful Anne Kolb Nature Center, one of the largest in the area. Both are within easy walking distance.
• Although I don't play golf, there is a public golf course nearby which I'm told is popular.
• There's a bike path which takes you right to Hollywood Beach, from where you can continue on the broadwalk's cycle path.

Why Did I Choose This Area Over Other Parts Of Florida?

Here's my opinion on buying property in other parts of Florida:

Orlando: Good for families with young children, given all the theme parks there. But to me it feels very artificial - everything seems to have been constructed specifically for tourists. And NO beaches! What's the point of going to Florida and not experiencing its fantastic beaches?

Gulf Coast Area: A bit difficult to reach - you can either fly to Tampa or Orlando, but you'll still have a bit of a drive to your property. The beaches are also not as nice as on the Atlantic side. Furthermore - and this is something I've never experienced myself - some claim that there is a certain "smell" during part of the year that comes from the sea. Doesn't sound too pleasant! There also aren't as many amenities as on the East coast. Naples is nice, but property in prime areas or close to the sea is very expensive. The best places in this area are the islands of Sanibel and Captiva - which are absolutely stunning - but they have absolutely astronomical property prices.

Panhandle/Northern Florida: Nice, but difficult to access from the UK. Not a region I'm too familiar with.

In conclusion: when I found an 850 square foot apartment in the Hollywood/Dania Beach area, in a smallish gated community that was built only 3 years ago, and that had a bargain price, I just couldn't say no. And I'm very happy I made this decision.