Moving to Surfside: a practical guide
Housing and what it costs
Surfside is expensive — among the priciest observant communities in the country — and the housing is largely oceanfront and near-oceanfront condos. Collins Avenue buildings like The Waves, Spiaggia, and Solimar were built with Shabbat elevators and are marketed directly to observant families, which sustains a premium. What you buy is a genuinely walkable enclave where everything you need is within a ten-minute walk. Figures are approximate as of mid-2026 — use the apartment search above for live listings.
Picking a building
Because the housing is overwhelmingly vertical, the practical question is which building — Shabbat elevator access, proximity to Harding Avenue, and walking distance to your shul are the variables that matter most. The Shul of Bal Harbour is one of the most prominent Chabad institutions in the country; Young Israel of Bal Harbour serves a large Modern Orthodox contingent; and Magen David, Hechal Shalom Or Oziel, and The Sephardic Center reflect a strong Syrian and North African presence. Ask your rav about carrying within a building as well as outside it.
Kosher and daily life
Harding Avenue is the main street: Grove Kosher Market anchors groceries, with a full restaurant row — The Harbour Grill, Kosh, Neya, Rustiko Dairy and more — within a few blocks. This is South Florida’s most self-contained walkable Jewish enclave, and the density of options is closer to Brooklyn than to the rest of Florida.
Schools
Families draw on the north Miami-Dade day school network, with the larger institutions concentrated in North Miami Beach and the surrounding communities a short drive north. Confirm current admissions and busing directly with each school.
Who it fits
Surfside suits families who want maximum walkability, oceanfront living, and a dense international Jewish community — and who can absorb the price. It skews wealthier and more transient than North Miami Beach, with a significant seasonal and international population alongside the year-round community.