Exploring Miami's housing solutions and innovations

This collection of stories highlights various ways communities and people in South Florida are addressing housing challenges.

In one story, Miamians confront rent burdens, with many residents spending a significant portion of their income on housing, exacerbated by high inflation rates. Another story features a Miami developer's innovative approach, transforming luxury living by launching Crescent Seas, a condo cruise line offering high seas residences. Elsewhere, a Bay Harbor condo board demonstrates foresight, successfully navigating Florida's new regulatory environment while keeping costs manageable. Meanwhile, polling reveals that a growing number of Americans, particularly non-homeowners, feel homeownership remains out of reach economically. Read the stories below.

Stephania Germain, 24, who is on a Section 8 housing voucher, poses inside her apartment that she lives in with her daughter on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, in Miami. Germain was raised in foster care and is doing the best she can for herself and her baby. She says that even with the voucher, with recent increases it makes paying rent tough. “It just keeps going up and I don’t get a break to save, and I need new baby clothes, ya know they grow out of them so fast,” said Germain. By Alie Skowronski

NO. 1: MIAMIANS ARE THE MOST RENT-BURDENED PEOPLE IN AMERICA — AND THEY’RE STRESSED ABOUT IT

New Census Bureau data shows that Miamians spend a larger chunk of their incomes on housing than residents in all other major American cities. | Published October 8, 2024 | Read Full Story by Max Klaver

Manager Heri Kletzenbuer, left, and board president Andre Williams stand outside the Golden Key Condominiums in Bay Harbor Islands. The managers of the modest 1960s condo have maintained affordability for owners while extensively refurbishing the building and successfully navigating recertification and stringent new post-Surfside state regulations. By Pedro Portal

NO. 2: HOW A SMALL BAY HARBOR CONDO MET FLORIDA’S TOUGH RULES. AND KEPT COSTS DOWN DOING IT

‘We wanted to get ahead of the curve , but we didn’t want to financially cripple anyone.’ | Published April 30, 2025 | Read Full Story by Andres Viglucci

Rendering of Navigator when it’s ready at end of 2026

NO. 3: CONDOS ON A CRUISE SHIP? WHY A MIAMI DEVELOPER IS PLANNING LUXURY HOMES AT SEA

Take a look at what’s being planned. | Published April 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Vinod Sreeharsha Jane Woolridge

More than two-thirds of non-homeowners, 68%, are priced out of the housing market, according to a new Gallup poll. And a record-high 45% say they likely won’t buy a home in the foreseeable future.

NO. 4: WILL YOU BUY A HOME? RECORD SHARE OF NON-OWNERS SAY NOT FOR A WHILE, POLL FINDS

And a record-low share said they plan on buying in the next five to 10 years. | Published May 9, 2025 | Read Full Story by Brendan Rascius

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.