In my last piece, I wrote about Bay Harbor Islands’ history and how it got to be what it is today. Now, I want to take the time to dive into specifics about the islands, calling attention to the best features that the islands have to offer.

First, I want to highlight the quality of life and general “livability” on Bay Harbor Islands. In the past few years, new developments and the neighborhood’s unique location have caused the islands to blossom. And, with the 70th anniversary near, it only makes sense to showcase all the reasons why Bay Harbor Islands shines and is slowly emerging as one of the top places to live in South Florida.

Home away from the city

Something unique to Miami’s landscape is that islands and areas are easily separated into neighboring towns. Normally, cities like Manhattan, for example, have crossover and hardly any true separation. Hell’s Kitchen flows into Chelsea, which becomes the West Village, and so on — and all these neighborhoods are residential but have a vibrant nightlife. In Miami, neighborhoods don’t overlap and combine as often, therefore allowing areas to separate themselves enough from the city to provide quiet, quaint regions for people to reside. It’s quite rare to find peace within the bustle of the city, yet Bay Harbor Islands acts as a buffer and sits only twenty minutes from the heart of Miami.

Walkability

The term “walkability” was coined by hotels, neighborhoods and real estate companies to promote how friendly a neighborhood is. Bay Harbor Islands is very walkable, as the town is not only small enough to walk to and from places easily, but is also considered a very safe area for your nightly stroll or children to play outside. For the most part, depending on where you are on the islands, the average walk to the beach is only 20 minutes.

Boutique feel

Nobody wants what everyone has — a statement very well-known and understood in the luxury real estate industry. Bay Harbor Islands as a geographic location sets itself apart from other areas, making it a unique option for the elite. Its quaint location gives off an uber-lux feel, attracting unique boutique shops and store owners to do business there, giving residents on the island access to items, food and drinks that others in Miami don’t have. And if that’s not enough, Bal Harbor Shops, one of the most famous boutique strips for shopping and dining in America, is only a five minute drive away!

Family-oriented

If the walkability score and quiet area aren’t enough of a giveaway, Bay Harbor Islands is also a great place to raise or start a family. In the past few years, there has been influx of younger families moving onto the islands (54 percent of households are families). Most are looking to settle down, as Bay Harbor Islands acts as the perfect in-between for young professionals ready to start a family. Not to mention, Ruth K. Broad Bay Harbor K-8 Center is rated one of the top-rated grade schools in Miami-Dade County.

With only 70 years under its belt, Bay Harbor Islands continues to grow and develop into a unique and booming area within Miami with suburban-like qualities and lifestyle, yet only 20 minutes from the city.

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.

Show Comments Hide Comments
Sign up for Inman’s Morning Headlines
What you need to know to start your day with all the latest industry developments
By submitting your email address, you agree to receive marketing emails from Inman.
Success!
Thank you for subscribing to Morning Headlines.
Back to top
Only 3 days left to register for Inman Connect Las Vegas before prices go up! Don't miss the premier event for real estate pros.Register Now ×
Limited Time Offer: Get 1 year of Inman Select for $199SUBSCRIBE×
Log in
If you created your account with Google or Facebook
Don't have an account?
Forgot your password?
No Problem

Simply enter the email address you used to create your account and click "Reset Password". You will receive additional instructions via email.

Forgot your username? If so please contact customer support at (510) 658-9252

Password Reset Confirmation

Password Reset Instructions have been sent to

Subscribe to The Weekender
Get the week's leading headlines delivered straight to your inbox.
Top headlines from around the real estate industry. Breaking news as it happens.
15 stories covering tech, special reports, video and opinion.
Unique features from hacker profiles to portal watch and video interviews.
Unique features from hacker profiles to portal watch and video interviews.
It looks like you’re already a Select Member!
To subscribe to exclusive newsletters, visit your email preferences in the account settings.
Up-to-the-minute news and interviews in your inbox, ticket discounts for Inman events and more
1-Step CheckoutPay with a credit card
By continuing, you agree to Inman’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

You will be charged . Your subscription will automatically renew for on . For more details on our payment terms and how to cancel, click here.

Interested in a group subscription?
Finish setting up your subscription
×