Living in South Florida: The growing challenges

The following articles explore the challenges of living in South Florida. They highlight the region's unaffordable housing market, rising costs and gentrification pressures.

In Miami, residents face rising rents and financial strain. Many spend over half their income on housing.

Condo buyouts become more common in South Florida. Structural issues and rising costs push some condo owners to sell. Developers target these properties, viewing them as prime redevelopment opportunities.

Black South Floridians struggle with homeownership in gentrifying Miami communities. They face barriers like predatory lending and low credit scores.

Read the stories below.

North Bay Village, junto a la bahía y muy cerca de la playa de Miami Beach, recibe proyectos residenciales de lujo, que aumentan precios inmobilarios. Un programa de vivienda de la ciudad ayuda a los residentes y trabajadores esenciales a comprar condos, alquilar o pagar servicios públicos atrasados. By MATIAS J. OCNER

NO. 1: IS YOUR CONDO RIPE FOR A BUYOUT? SEVEN SIGNS THAT DEVELOPERS MIGHT TARGET YOUR BUILDING

The Miami Herald spoke with three real estate experts who weighed in on the telltale signs a condominium is ripe for redevelopment. | Published October 4, 2024 | Read Full Story by rsanjuan@miamiherald.comRebecca San Juan

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. 2: 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

Sabrina Guillaume stands outside the duplex she owns in Liberty City. Guillaume spent several years trying to buy a property in the neighborhood where her parents live and she grew up. By Carl Juste

NO. 3: BLACK SOUTH FLORIDIANS STRUGGLE TO BUY AND KEEP HOMES IN MIAMI’S GENTRIFYING COMMUNITIES

“We’re losing ground every day.” | Published April 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Raisa Habersham Michael Butler

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.