South Dade

When Robert Duvall declared his love for the smell of napalm in the morning in the cinematic classic “Apocalypse Now,” the phrase was immediately etched into the memories of millions of those who saw the film. Had the movie been set in the South Dade area of Miami, a better alternative might have been, “I love the smell of royal palm in the morning.” Given the neighborhood’s proximity to the Homestead Air Reserve Base and the abundance of royal palm trees lining the streets, the modification to that classic line would have been appropriate. And to strain this comparison to the breaking point (pun intended), it’s less than 30 miles to world-class surfing in South Pointe Beach. But there is a whole lot more to South Dade than tenuous comparisons to movies about the Vietnam War. Featuring beautiful homes on well-kept lawns along quiet streets, South Dade also provides residents with plentiful nearby amenities and easy highway access, as well as immense amounts of open space for exploration and relaxation. “It’s almost like its own suburb,” says Carolina Pacheco with EXP Realty. “You get the peace and quiet of rural life, but you’re close enough to the city to get there easily. You get the best of both worlds.” So let’s take a minute and stroll through the heart of lightness in South Dade.

The median price of homes in South Dade hovers around $465,000, and the average price-per-square-foot is $286. Both of those are well below the median for Miami-Dade County as a whole, so South Dade homes are a relative bargain for the area, as Pacheco points out: “It’s a great range of prices. Buyers who are priced out of areas closer to Miami can find a home they can afford here, and people can also find top-of-the-line homes if they want that.” A typical three-bedroom/one-bathroom ranch-style home can list for around $390,000, and prices can go up to $700,000 for a new-construction five-bedroom/three-bathroom modern.

Students in the neighborhood can attend Goulds Elementary, Cutler Bay Middle and Homestead Senior High School. Goulds Elementary earns a C+ rating on Niche.com, Cutler Bay Middle earns a B- and Homestead Senior High earns a B. Students at Homestead Senior High have the option to participate in any of over 40 school-sponsored clubs, ranging from Future Educators of America to Women of Tomorrow, and 14 different varsity-level athletics teams.

When it comes to recreational activities in South Dade, be prepared to get outside and enjoy that Florida sunshine. Whether you spend some time fishing in and walking around the lake at Pine Island Lake Park or enjoying the playground and basketball court at Kevin Broils Park, there is plenty of outdoor activity to enjoy in the neighborhood. But if you really want to get out and experience nature, head to the neighborhood’s eastern boundary, where you’ll find Mangrove Preserve in Biscayne National Park. The park covers more than 172,000 acres and is 95% water. The Mangrove Preserve covers over 6,900 acres of that area and is a great place to experience the natural side of Florida. You can often spot American crocodiles, manatees and other wildlife in the wetlands area. And avid birdwatchers will want to head to Dump Marsh Preserve in the northern section of the park, as it is one of the nation’s premier bird-watching sites where over 200 species of birds are regularly spotted.

All that activity can make one hungry, so it’s a good thing that Publix is located within the neighborhood to make it easy for residents to stock up on groceries. Next to Publix you’ll find Walmart Super Center, where you can get all of those home necessities that you’ll inevitably require. And the Southland Mall is just 10 minutes away by car for all those retail therapy sessions. When cooking at home isn’t on the menu, check out the menu at Chivas Burger that includes burgers, chicken, pasta and some amazing dessert options.

If you, too, love the smell of royal palms in the morning paired with the ability to get your big-city fix easily, check out the homes in South Dade. Not only will you find well-built houses in a quiet neighborhood, you’ll also find them for a lot less money than the rest of the area.

Written By

Andrew Spencer

Photography Contributed By

Daniele Giuseppe Del Gaudio

Video By

Joan Wall