Whether your passions are chasing sun and fun on the beach or looking for an outlet for high-price retail therapy, you will find plenty of reasons to love Miami, Florida. 

This coastal metropolis in Southern Florida is known for its large beautiful beaches, lively nightlife scene, and a wide variety of some of the most beautiful real estate in the United States. Locals call Miami “The Magic City”, and it is easy to see why considering all the great food, art, and homes. 

Boating and watersports are a way of life in Miami, as the temperatures rarely drop below 70 degrees throughout the year. There is no shortage of fun in "The 305", but figuring out your specific reason for moving to Miami can be hard to pin down. 

That is why the team at Prevu Real Estate put together several of the top reasons why people move to Miami.

Reasons to move to Miami

• Amazing weather year-round
• Destination for foodies
• No state income tax
• Great selection of golf courses
• Bustling economy
• Melting pot of culture
• Beautiful art scene
• Stunning architecture

Amazing weather year-round

When you visit cities on the Western Gulf Coast of Florida, like Clearwater, you can go swimming in January, but the water is in the balmy mid-60s. If you hit Miami Beach in December, you can go swimming in the high 60s, low 70-degree water. 

The air temperature rarely falls below 68 degrees, so the water stays warm all year round. This great weather means swimmers and beachcombers can hit the shores any time of the year. 

Plus, since the crowds typically come during the warmer months, locals living near popular spots like Ocean Terrace Public Beach or Surfside Beach can get swathes of the beach for themselves. If you're looking for solitude, head to Key Biscayne to the south, where you can grab some space in the sand at Crandon Beach. 

Destination for foodies 

Recommending a restaurant to friends is difficult when you live in Miami since there are so many great options to choose from. 

The food scene spreads throughout the city, but you can find a cluster of top-rated restaurants in Downtown Miami and South Beach. Any day of the week, you can nosh out on cuisine ranging from authentic Cuban sandwiches like the Medianoche to ritzy Japanese delicacies like Wagyu beef and sea bass sushi. 

Downtown Miami near 1st and 2nd Avenues has a diverse array of food, and you can find locals exploring Catalan cuisine at NIU Kitchen or having craft cocktails and gator bites at Over Under. 

Seafood is a way of life in Miami, and fresh fish from the Atlantic Ocean grace the tables of the most upscale restaurants. If you want authentic Peruvian seafood, you must check out La Mar by Gaston Acurio. Folks make reservations at this waterfront restaurant on Brickell Key to get best-in-class ceviche and fresh snapper straight from Biscayne Bay. 

No state income tax 

If the sun, fun, and beaches weren't enough, the lack of state income tax might motivate you to move to Miami. 

Florida does not take any taxes on income or social security, which is why many retirees move to Florida, as it saves them a lot of money in their golden years. But you do not need to be a retiree to take advantage of this tax boon. 

While you still have to pay property and sales tax, excising the income tax saves homeowners in Miami a lot of money each year. Property taxes vary throughout the city, but if you pay your property taxes early in Miami, you can get a discount on your bill. 

So while the cost of living is higher than the national average, people moving to Miami

Great selection of golf courses 

People worldwide come Miami to play golf, but locals can hit the fairway during the best parts of the year. Many people with second homes in Miami will travel south for the colder months from New York or other cold states, enabling them to play year-round during the best seasons

Some of the best courses, like Indian Creek Country Club and La Gorce Country Club, are private and located on islands in Biscayne Bay. Homebuyers jockey for the prime waterfront real estate surrounding these courses. 

Golf professionals worldwide travel to Miami to play at courses such as the historic Miami Beach Golf Club, which has been open to members for over a century. Inland, near the University of Miami, is the Country Club Section of the city, where you can find the storied 9-hole public Granada Golf Course, as well as Biltmore Golf Course and Riviera Country Club. 

Bustling economy 

The history of Miami dates back to the 1800s when the area was known as Biscayne Bay Country. Back then, a citrus grower from Cleveland named Julia Tuttle convinced railroad magnates to connect the Florida East Coast Railway to these sun-bleached shores, bringing in trade. 

Today, Miami’s economy is one of the largest in the world. Downtown Miami is the financial center of the city, where there is a strong wealth management and banking presence. Some well-known names include Bank of America, TD Bank, Banco Popular, and the First American Bank. 

During covid, several venture capital firms moved to Miami, with well-known names like Founders Fund and Andreessen Horowitz opening offices in the city. Major tech firms have space in Miami as well, like Palantir and Oracle.

The University of Miami has stellar health, science, and medical programs, and many graduates go on to open medical offices in the area. In the health district, you can find plenty of smaller clinics and large hospitals like Jackson Memorial, the largest hospital in the nation with over 1,500 beds. 

While finance and medicine are big in Miami, the shipping and cruise industry make up a large chunk of the economy as well. Dodge Island, right in the heart of Biscayne Bay, is where you can find berths built for the largest cruise liners in the world. Disney, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Carnival run cruises out of the island. 

Miami is called the Gateway to Latin America because of the maritime trade, as containerized cargo comes and goes to many South American countries from the city. 

Melting pot of culture 

Miami is home to many different cultures that create a vibrant feel distinct to the city. From classically prepared foods to vibrant murals adorning buildings, culture is central to the heart of Miami. 

The city is known as the “Gateway to Latin America” as it is the home of many immigrants from the Caribbean, Haiti, Cuba, as well as Central and South America. 

For instance, if you find yourself in Little Haiti, you will find great restaurants along Northeast 54th Street. Hungry residents can find staples like Chez Le Bebe, which is known for its seafood, then head over to C Bon Bakery on Northwest 2nd Avenue to grab authentic Haitian bread pudding cakes or amazingly flaky Patés Feuilletés. 

Cigar and art lovers frequent Little Havana, where you can find authentic Cafecito in one of the bakeries lining Southwest 8th street. After grabbing a bite from Sanguich De Miami, you can spend time and take in the rich culture at places like the Cubaocho Museum & Performing Arts Center on Southwest 8th Street. 

Eclectic Arts Scene 

When it comes to natural beauty, Miami is hard to beat. But when it comes to art, Miami is second to none. 

From sprawling galleries in Downtown to large murals, art weaves itself into the city's fabric. The galleries provide a pathway for local artists and global icons to connect with art lovers in Miami. Many artists dream of having their works in one of the galleries dotting the Wynwood Arts District. Yet art enthusiasts can find galleries in Little Haiti, Allapattah, and Downtown. 

The art scene comes alive each December in Miami when Art Basel comes to town. This week-long celebration of the arts is a chance for artists to show off their works at pop-up galleries, complete with live music and drinks, drawing collectors from all over the nation.

Yet some of the most beautiful works in Miami are not in a museum or gallery, they are homes hidden away in the neighborhoods of the city. 

Stunning architecture 

Miami has the third-largest skyline in America, which means gleaming glass condos and high-rises are all over Miami. Yet The 305 also has a diverse collection of home styles gracing its sunny streets. 

While there are plenty of skyscrapers in Downtown Miami and Brickell, you can find beautiful homes across the city. Inland, you can find single-family homes in communities like Coral Gables, South Miami, and Dadeland. The styles range from revivalist Mediterranean compounds to traditional stucco-sided bungalows, but you can also find Mission-style homes that would look equally at home in Southern California. 

As you head towards South Beach, the city transforms into an Art Deco paradise. One of the most recognizable places in Miami is Ocean Drive. This world-famous stretch of South Beach shows off the beautiful Art Deco style that created the setting for famous movies like Scarface. Many single-family homes and multi-family buildings in South Beach have colorful facades and angled exteriors, borrowing from the hotels and bars on Ocean Drive.