Prosperity has deepened affordability challenges for many longtime Miami residents. According to a study, half households spend more than 30% of their income on housing, a common benchmark for financial strain. The county also faces a shortage of more than 90,000 affordable rental units for lower- and moderate-income households.

Coconut Grove offers something many luxury enclaves cannot: discretion. Hidden behind lush landscaping and quiet streets, the neighborhood allows billionaires and high-profile residents to remain close to Miami’s booming financial and cultural centers while maintaining a rare sense of privacy and community.

Local agents say a sharp rise in buyer activity during the first quarter has fueled significant gains in both contracts and closings, signaling renewed confidence in the high-end coastal market. Activity has been broad-based, with properties ranging from modest condominiums to luxury homes changing hands.

A recent report compared median annual rent with median household income across 182 cities nationwide. Miami ranked last for affordability, with renters dedicating about 33.77% of their income to housing.

Damac Properties, the Dubai-based developer that purchased the property, has not sold a single unit at its planned luxury condo building, known as Delmore Surfside condo project. The redevelopment has remained controversial, as some community members had hoped the site would instead become a memorial.