Sarah Vaughan, our woman in Marbella, has a look at the Miami markets.
Can anywhere in the world have it all? Can any city have miles of ravishing beaches flanked by turquoise waters, non-stop nightlife, an established arts and culture scene, unique architecture, mouthwatering cuisine from every corner of the globe, PGA golf courses, over 250 tennis courts, shopping 'til you drop and temperatures that rarely fall below 80F? Miami has it all, and more.
Picture the opening credits of Miami Vice, the late 80s series that brought this part of Florida to television screens all over the world. Palms, open water, flamingoes, ladies in bikinis, baseball, vintage American cars, high rises, beaches and Art Deco buildings. Although times have changed, the ethos is very much alive. Miami is an eclectic mix of everything for everyone and the many foreigners that decide to purchase second homes there have the playgrounds of Ocean Drive and South Beach virtually on their doorsteps. Enough to whet any appetite, especially when you consider the current added value of the dollar against sterling.
Property in Miami ranges from the affordable to the 'don't even ask how much', from the modest apartment to the fairytale palace. But, without doubt there is a home to suit every aspirational second homeowner's pocket.
Apart-hotels, known as Hotel Residences in the America, put luxury condominiums and name-brand hotels under one roof, a purchase in one of these will give you all the pampering of a hotel when you come on vacation as well as the opportunity to earn an income via rental when you are out of town. Alternatively, a quality apartment in a good area will start from a minimum of 300.000 US dollars and these will often have stunning elevated views due to the Miami obsession with high rises. For a mere 10 million US dollars you can neighbour Jennifer Lopez, P Diddy, Boris Becker or Oprah Winfrey (yes they all live here) and pop round for a cup of sugar.
