North Shore

Tucked between Miami Beach's Surfside and Mid Beach communities, North Shore is a tranquil, residential community bordered by the ocean, Biscayne Bay and bayside islands.

Unlike the south side of this barrier island, North Shore brings a more easygoing vibe to the Miami Beach lifestyle, with the rowdiness of South Beach 5 miles away for those who want it. An added bonus of this atmosphere? Free and ample street parking. "North Beach is the kind of place where you live half your life in workout clothes or bathing suits. It's very lowkey, and people like it," says Robert Posner, a Realtor with Brown Harris Stevens. "No, really, they love it. It's not busy at all; it's a very chill and quiet neighborhood, very residential. The restaurants along Collins Avenue really just serve the local community. They're not draws from other areas; they're just local spots." El Ranchero Grande is an excellent example of this. From chicharron tacos to chicken chimichangas, this restaurant has been in the neighborhood, serving up authentic Mexican cuisine since the 1990s. And among the local eateries on Collins Avenue, markets, grocery stores and pharmacies for day-to-day errands can be found as well.

The neighborhood's main stretch of green space, North Beach Oceanside Park, is where you'll find most of the action. This enclave is a vibrant gateway to the beach, dense with tropical flora. A shaded playground, artsy décor, walking trails, a tennis facility and more lie in this scenic nook, as does the Miami Beach Bandshell. Originally designed in 1961 by a leading figure of the Miami Modern (MiMo) style, Norman Giller, this event venue, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, hosts a variety of engaging and fun-filled concerts, dances, shows and community talks.

"Most of the housing in the North Beach area is small multifamily homes," Posner says. "There's a smattering of single-family homes, like the property I have listed, but those are more rare. As you get closer to the water, there are some more upscale single-family houses. They're nice, but those three rows are pretty unique." Many of North Shore's mid and low-rise condominium buildings were originally built from the 1960s through the late 1990s. The early 2000s and 2010s also brought new waves of construction, and now, in 2023, another development cycle has begun. "A lot of development is coming to the neighborhood," Posner says. "Prices of housing there have gone up quite a bit in the last 24 months. Ella is a new building they're putting there — it's the first of three — and what's nice about that building is that it'll be Airbnb-friendly, so it's a fantastic opportunity for investors." Prices for condos range from $200,000 for a one-bedroom, one-bathroom, 562-square-foot condo in a 1950s building to over $3.6 million for a 2019 two-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom, 1,662-square-foot condo right on the beach.

And while single-family homes here are few and far between, those on the beachfront display sprawling Modern and contemporary architecture with upwards of 4 bedrooms; prices for these properties range from $5.3 million to over $20 million. Toward the heart of the community, the sparse single-family homes are typically smaller and older, with prices roughly hovering between $800,000 and $1.3 million.

North Shore students can start school right in the neighborhood at Biscayne Beach Elementary before attending the nearby Miami Beach Nautilus Middle, which was rated with a B on Niche and hosts fun classes, such as the Exploring Flavors: Culinary Adventures course, which teaches students the fundamental principles and techniques of cooking. From there, they can graduate from Miami Beach Senior High, rated with a B-plus on Niche. This high school boasts multiple academies, including the Academy of Marine and Environmental Sciences, so students can focus on an area of interest alongside their regular curriculum.

With its relaxing, beachy vibes and easygoing attitude, the North Shore community is a great option to consider when looking for multifamily homes within walking distance of Miami Beach's sandy shores.

Written By

Micaela Willoughby

Photography Contributed By

Eduardo Ford