In this episode of Better Decisions, I sit down with Mackenzie Price—Stanford-trained psychologist, co-founder of Alpha Schools and the two hour learning AI tutor platform. After launching in Austin and expanding nationwide, Mackenzie has now brought Alpha’s radically different, data-backed model to Miami as the city’s newest high-performance private school option.

We break down what makes Alpha so different from traditional Miami private schools: an AI-based learning model where students crush core academics in just two hours a day, then spend the rest of the school day in roughly six hours of real-life skill building—entrepreneurship, communication, grit, leadership, and social-emotional development.

• 0:00 – Teaser
• 1:00 – Welcome
• 2:04 – Meet Mackenzie Price & Alpha’s origin story
• 3:04 – What Alpha School actually is
• 6:37 – Rethinking what parents should expect from private school
• 09:54 – The AI-based learning model explained
• 10:41 – What a full school day looks like at Alpha
• 16:02 – Why most kids are years behind despite “good” grades
• 19:11 – Six hours of real-life skill building
• 22:14 – Emotional development, anxiety, and the role of guides vs teachers
• 25:03 – Social skills, play, and the “Mean Girls cafeteria” workshop
• 27:40 – Sports, physical challenges & building grit through the body
• 30:26 – Who Alpha is right for—and who it’s not
• 33:02 – Mackenzie’s own kids’ journey
• 36:17 – Real student stories
• 41:00 – Parents’ biggest fears about AI in school
• 44:38 – Miami's overcrowded schools, migration & demand for alternatives
• 47:21 – Alpha Miami’s growth today & long-term campus vision
• 51:09 – Preparing kids for an AI future
• 55:02 – Shadow days, founding families & what to do before you visit
• 58:10 – Closing thoughts

Read the full article → https://www.luxlifemiamiblog.com/the-rise-of-miamis-most-disruptive-new-private-school

Mackenzie Price is a Stanford-trained psychologist and co-founder of Alpha Schools and the two hour learning AI tutor platform. Since opening the first Alpha campus in 2014, she’s helped build one of the most talked-about school models in the country—combining AI-based learning, mastery-level academics, and intensive life-skills development. Mackenzie now leads Alpha’s expansion into Miami, giving local families a future-focused alternative to traditional private school.

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#BetterDecisionsPodcast #MiamiPrivateSchools #MiamiEducation #AlphaSchool #AIinEducation #MiamiParents #MiamiRealEstate #FamilyLiving #FutureOfEducation #DavidSiddonsGroup

In this episode of Better Decisions, I sit down with Karen Cunningham, longtime mayor of Palmetto Bay—Miami’s “Village of Parks.” A former first-grade teacher and community advocate, Mayor Cunningham has led initiatives spanning school safety, flood-risk reduction, and park expansion while keeping the village’s small-town feel intact.

We unpack why Palmetto Bay has become a top choice for families and value-minded buyers: low crime, strong public schools, meaningful parks & recreation, guardrails on over-development, and practical investments in resilience that can even reduce flood-insurance costs. We also look ahead at mobility upgrades, the growing downtown corridor, and how lifestyle and community programming shape long-term home values.

• 0:00 – Teaser
• 1:00 – Welcome & guest intro
• 4:03 – How the village began
• 7:00 – Parks & recreation culture
• 9:28 – New recreation center coming 2025
• 10:56 – Who’s moving here & why
• 12:20 – Top schools driving demand
• 15:17 – Traffic & commuting life
• 16:11 – Development limits & zoning
• 17:13 – Multifamily projects & density debate
• 21:21 – Transit upgrades & mobility
• 24:46 – Comparing Palmetto Bay vs Gables, Grove, Pinecrest
• 26:05 – Best streets & neighborhoods
• 27:57 – Pickleball & community connection
• 31:07 – Village vibe & social life
• 34:31 – Nature, wellness & lifestyle value
• 38:03 – Rising home values & luxury builds
• 45:31 – Future growth & investment outlook
• 47:59 – Resilience, flooding & sustainability
• 53:04 – Events, parks & community gatherings
• 54:37 – Next decade & downtown vision
• 56:15 – Public safety & peace of mind
• 59:10 – Closing thoughts

Read the full article →

Karen Cunningham has served Palmetto Bay residents for over a decade—first as Councilwoman and now as a two-term Mayor. Her administration emphasizes public safety, parks and recreation, school partnerships, and infrastructure/resilience, all while maintaining the village’s community-forward character.

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#MiamiRealEstate #BetterDecisionsPodcast #PalmettoBay #MiamiNeighborhoods #FamilyLiving #QualityOfLife #DavidSiddonsGroup

In this episode of Better Decisions, David sits down with Ana Bozovic—founder of Analytics Miami, four-term governor of the Miami Association of Realtors, and a Columbia-trained mathematician— to break down the UBS Bubble Index headlines and reveal the on-the-ground data shaping Miami’s market in 2025. We cover cash vs. debt dynamics, inventory by price point, migration flows, where risk really lives (older condos & micro-bubbles), and how to evaluate neighborhoods and buildings with first-principles metrics instead of clickbait.

• 00:00 — Teaser
• 01:08 — Welcome & guest intro
• 02:05 — Ana’s credentials & approach (proof-level rigor)
• 03:12 — UBS report overview & media headlines
• 05:11 — Contradictions in the report (Pg. 11 vs. methodology)
• 08:48 — What a “bubble” is: debt, leverage & fast drawdowns
• 09:45 — Miami is an all-cash market (share by price tier)
• 10:54 — Wealth & talent migration: the prime driver
• 16:08 — A better bubble index: debt use + inventory signals
• 23:24 — Months of inventory by price point (how to read it)
• 28:36 — Condos: old vs. new, replaceability & risk
• 33:39 — Tracking high-end sales as a health indicator
• 40:01 — Three core issues with the UBS index
• 43:29 — Primary markets (Gables, Grove, Pinecrest, Beach)
• 44:21 — Urban rentals & short-term rental micro-cycles
• 52:12 — Older buildings post-Surfside: assessments & HOAs
• 56:31 — Branding mirage & new-tower micro-bubbles
• 60:08 — Pipeline saturation & small-unit risk
• 66:15 — What wealthy end-users actually buy
• 68:36 — New prime product vs. resale: volumes & PSF
• 72:25 — Will Miami actually “pop”? What would it take
• 75:09 — Long-term fundamentals: lifestyle, safety, taxes
• 79:24 — Neighborhood & building-level data tools
• 82:05 — Wrap-up & how to make better decisions

• Read the full blog article → luxlifemiamiblog.com

Ana Bozovic is the founder of Analytics Miami, a four-term governor of the Miami Association of Realtors, and a Columbia-trained mathematician known for rigorous, long-horizon market reports widely cited by The Wall Street Journal, The Real Deal, and more.

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Keywords: Miami real estate, Miami housing market, Miami real estate bubble, UBS Bubble Report, Ana Bozovic, Analytics Miami, David Siddons, Better Decisions Podcast, Miami condos, South Florida real estate, Miami property market, Miami housing trends, Miami market analysis, real estate data, housing bubble myths, wealth migration, luxury real estate, Florida real estate, real estate investing, Miami inventory trends, cash buyers, market fundamentals, real estate insights, Miami development, South Florida housing, Miami luxury market, condo market analysis, real estate analytics, economic trends, housing market 2025

In this episode of Better Decisions, I sit down with Craig Studnicky, Co-Founder & CEO of ISG World and creator of The Miami Report, to unpack what the data actually shows about South Florida’s real-estate market in 2025.

We dive into resale momentum, pricing trends, inventory cycles, and the growing gap between new and aging buildings—cutting through headlines to reveal what’s really happening beneath the surface. Craig shares insights on buyer psychology, financing hurdles tied to Fannie Mae’s “blacklist,” and how Miami’s market is maturing into a new, data-driven phase.

• 0:00 Intro
• 1:07 Why Miami’s market is misunderstood
• 4:48 2025 data: inventory & pricing trends
• 7:32 Old vs. new condos
• 9:58 Recertification laws & Surfside effect
• 12:42 Assessments & affordability
• 15:05 Why buyers avoid older condos
• 17:22 Hidden value in “oldies but goodies”
• 19:09 Stubborn sellers & buyer psychology
• 21:57 Inventory by price point
• 25:18 Interest rates & investor sentiment
• 27:56 Pre-construction slowdown
• 30:09 Aston Martin case study
• 33:51 Luxury tower oversupply
• 36:17 The “day-in-the-life” value test
• 39:04 Branding vs. quality
• 42:56 Licensing pitfalls
• 45:53 Delivery delays & pricing
• 48:10 End-users vs. speculators
• 50:57 Replaceability & long-term value
• 54:09 Grove vs. Brickell lifestyles
• 57:42 Migration trends reshaping demand
• 1:00:36 Where new buyers come from
• 1:03:18 South American demand
• 1:05:44 European buyers on the rise
• 1:08:31 Lifestyle & safety priorities
• 1:10:27 Short-term rental caution
• 1:12:40 Midtown, Wynwood & Edgewater
• 1:15:36 Design District growth
• 1:19:54 Walkable urban living
• 1:22:58 Retail revival & Lincoln Road
• 1:25:11 What’s next for Wynwood & Design District
• 1:27:33 Where to find opportunities now
• 1:29:06 Final takeaways & Q3 preview

• Read the full blog article → https://www.luxlifemiamiblog.com
• 📊 The Miami Report by ISG World → https://www.isgworld.com/the-miami-report

Craig Studnicky is the Co-Founder and CEO of ISG World and Related ISG Realty. With over 30 years in South Florida real estate, he’s best known for creating The Miami Report—the industry’s most trusted data source on condos and development trends. His analysis connects developers, brokers, and investors through transparent, data-driven insight.

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🌐 Explore listings & data tools → luxlifemiamiblog.com

#MiamiRealEstate #CraigStudnicky #TheMiamiReport #ISGWorld #BetterDecisionsPodcast #DavidSiddons #LuxuryRealEstate #SouthFloridaMarket #Brickell #CoconutGrove #Edgewater #RealEstateData #MarketAnalysis #MiamiMarket2025 #RealEstateInsights

🎙 BETTER DECISIONS PODCAST

Moving to Miami? Here’s How to Find the Perfect School for Your Kids

In this episode of Better Decisions, I sit down with Valeria Avirett, a Miami-based school advisor and relocation consultant who’s helped countless families navigate one of the toughest parts of moving—finding the right school.

We dive into how to evaluate private, public, and magnet schools, what admissions teams really look for, and how to build an educational plan that fits your child’s needs and your family’s lifestyle. From timelines and applications to community and commute, Valeria shares insider advice to help parents make smarter, calmer choices when relocating to Miami.

⏱️ Episode Chapters

• 00:00 — Welcome
• 00:32 — Who is Valeria Avirett? Her story and how she started
• 03:00 — The biggest challenges families face when relocating to Miami
• 06:15 — Private vs. Public vs. Magnet Schools — understanding the differences
• 09:45 — How relocation companies differ from school advisors
• 13:00 — Common mistakes families make when applying to Miami schools
• 16:45 — What to expect during the private school admissions process
• 20:30 — Tuition realities: the true cost of private education in Miami
• 23:00 — Application strategy — timing, fit, and Plan B schools
• 27:30 — The impact of lifestyle, budget, and location on school choices
• 31:45 — Miami’s top magnet schools & language programs explained
• 36:00 — The top private schools in Miami: Gulliver, Ransom, Carrollton & more
• 41:00 — How to elevate your application & stand out in competitive schools
• 46:00 — The emotional side of relocation — stress, kids’ adjustment & psychology
• 50:30 — Supporting neurodivergent learners & differently wired children
• 56:00 — The importance of early intervention and self-advocacy
• 59:00 — How schools are evolving with technology, AI, and new learning models
• 1:05:00 — Preparing kids for a changing world — creativity, discipline & resilience
• 1:10:00 — How Miami’s lifestyle and weather impact education and community life
• 1:14:00 — Building your village: how to make friends and find community after moving
• 1:18:00 — Final takeaways — how to choose the right school, not just the best-rated one

🔗 Read the full blog article:

https://luxlifemiamiblog.com/

🔗 Related Episodes

• 🎓 Inside Gulliver Prep Admissions → https://youtu.be/ln2Wp0sxfEo
• 🎓 Inside Palmer Trinity Admissions → https://youtu.be/Hmufuj8bCKc
• 🎓 Inside St. Thomas Episcopal Admissions → https://youtu.be/6t428pi6iZA

📌 About Valeria Avirett

Valeria Avirett is a Miami school advisor and relocation consultant specializing in helping families find the right educational fit. She works across private and public school systems to guide parents through admissions strategy, interviews, and placement—empowering families to make informed, confident decisions.

📬 Subscribe

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https://www.luxlifemiamiblog.com

#MiamiSchools #RelocatingToMiami #PrivateSchoolsMiami #Education #BetterDecisionsPodcast #DavidSiddons #Parenting #MiamiLife #SchoolAdvisor #Relocation #MiamiFamilies

In this episode of Better Decisions, I sit down with Katherine Kallergis of The Real Deal to unpack how my data-driven report on Miami’s underperforming condo buildings became her headline-making article—what popped in the numbers, where the stories matched the stats, and what all of it means for buyers, sellers, and developers.

We get into cumulative days on market, real discounts from original ask, $/SF trends, inventory mix, HOA/insurance/turnover, and why some “underperformers” can still be great buys. Facts over hype, patterns over anecdotes.

• 00:00 — Welcome
• 00:47 — Intro
• 02:06 — What Popped in the Data
• 06:20 — Underperformers ≠ Untouchable: Where the deals emerge
• 10:45 — The Metrics That Matter
• 14:40 — Carry Costs in Real Life
• 18:15 — Buyer confusion & “rules of the game”
• 21:30 — Patterns Repeat: History “rhymes” in condo cycles
• 26:10 — Branding, Investor Mix & Rental Saturation
• 27:35 — Why Negative Stories Travel
• 33:40 — Neighborhood Reality Checks: Edgewater, lawsuits & defects
• 37:30 — Flooding & Infrastructure as market forces
• 40:20 — Houses vs. Condos: Who’s outperforming and why
• 51:35 — What to Watch Next
• 58:00 — Final Takeaways

• My condo market reports & data tools → LuxLifeMiamiBlog.com (see Reports)
• The Real Deal article by Katherine Kallergis: therealdeal.com/miami/2025/08/28/are-these-the-underperforming-condo-buildings-in-miami/

Katherine is a senior reporter at The Real Deal who has spent years covering South Florida real estate with deep reporting on condos, development, litigation, and policy—from post-collapse HOA realities to market cycles and pricing trends.

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🌐 Explore listings & reports → luxlifemiamiblog.com

#MiamiCondos #TheRealDeal #UnderperformingCondos #HOA #Insurance #Edgewater #CoconutGrove #SunnyIsles #RealEstateData #BetterDecisionsPodcast #DavidSiddons #MiamiRealEstate

In this episode of Better Decisions, I sit down with Danielle Garno, a branding & intellectual property attorney who has spent decades protecting world-class brands, to unpack the psychology, law, and economics behind “branded” luxury—especially in Miami real estate. We get real about seduction marketing, brand markup, licensing & approval rights, heritage vs. hype, and how private equity can reshape (or erode) what made a brand special in the first place.

• 00:00 Cold Open — The Branding Mirage
• 00:47 Welcome & Guest Intro
• 02:06 Miami’s Branded Condo Boom
• 03:12 The Seduction of Branding
• 04:03 Scandals, Labor & Price
• 06:09 Anti-Counterfeiting & IP Protection
• 07:34 How Licensing Actually Works
• 11:16 Control & Quality
• 12:49 What Is a Brand?
• 15:17 Why We Buy
• 17:31 Brand Crises & Consumer Trust
• 19:27 “When Everything’s Branded, Nothing’s Branded”
• 20:10 Quiet Luxury vs. Loud Logos
• 22:10 Moncler Case Study & Pricing Psychology
• 23:58 Why Miami?
• 27:10 Neuromarketing & Social Conditioning
• 28:08 Buyer’s Checklist
• 31:18 The Illusion of Freedom & Instant Gratification
• 34:48 Private Equity: Profit vs. Heritage
• 36:20 What “Heritage” Really Signals
• 41:30 Evaluating Condos: Floor Plans, Materials, True Rarity
• 45:42 The Future of Branding
• 48:27 Accountability: Legal vs. Social Consequences
• 51:16 Marketing History, Claims & Fine Print
• 56:41 Final Thoughts & Takeaways
• 57:33 Outro

🔗 Read the full blog article:
https://luxlifemiamiblog.com/miami-branded-condo-mirage-high-value-or-high-risk/

Danielle Garno is a partner at Holland & Knight, where she advises fashion brands from startups to global houses on intellectual property, social media, advertising, and anti-counterfeiting, as well as complex litigation and white-collar defense. She writes and lectures widely on fashion law and serves on boards including the Beacon Council’s Creative Design Committee, Fashion Group International – South Florida, and the YoungArts Foundation. Her work has been recognized by Florida Trend, Florida Super Lawyers, and Law360.

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🎙 Miami’s Best Real Estate Podcast
BETTER DECISIONS PODCAST

In this solo episode, I reveal the most common (and costly) mistakes that can drain $1 million or more from Miami homebuyers. From flood zones to floor plans, these traps are everywhere — and avoiding them can mean the difference between a smart investment and a financial disaster.

If you’re buying in Miami, these are the mistakes you cannot afford to make.

• 00:00 Intro
• 01:55 Mistake #1 — Ignoring Flood Zones & Insurance Risk
• 03:55 Mistake #2 — Buying on the Wrong Street
• 05:11 Mistake #3 — Overlooking Zoning & Lot Size
• 06:34 Mistake #4 — Ignoring Price-Per-Square-Foot Ceilings
• 08:51 Mistake #5 — Ignoring Architecture & Floor Plans
• 13:02 Mistake #6 — Cutting Corners on Finishes
• 14:11 Mistake #7 — Ignoring Externalities You Can’t Renovate Away
• 15:57 Mistake #8 — Ignoring Boundaries, Schools & Zoning Rules
• 20:30 Mistake #9 — Overlooking Hidden Utility Costs
• 21:56 Final Takeaways

📬 Read the full article

📲 Follow me on Instagram → @thedavidsiddonsgroup
🌐 Explore listings & market reports → luxlifemiamiblog.com
🌐 Discover Miami’s best new construction → newconstructioncondomiami.com

#BetterDecisionsPodcast #MiamiRealEstate #MiamiLuxuryRealEstate #MiamiHomes #HomebuyingTips #DavidSiddonsGroup

🎙 Miami’s Best Real Estate Podcast
BETTER DECISIONS PODCAST

11 Hard Truths About Miami’s Luxury Real Estate Market (2025)

In this solo episode, I share 11 laser-focused truths about Miami’s 2025 luxury real estate market.

The data is clear:

• At the $2,000/SF+ level, only 17–22% of deals are financed — the rest present as cash.
• The $5M+ resale condo market is a buyer’s market with 312 listings and 179 expired.
• HOA + insurance fees are up nearly 60% since 2019, hitting older condos hardest.
• Brickell has 4,469 new condos in the pipeline, pressuring resales.
• Miami holds two national records for most expensive neighborhoods (Fisher Island & Gables Estates).

If you’re buying or selling in Miami’s top tier, this is the actionable roadmap you don’t want to miss.

⏱️ Episode Chapters

• 00:00 Intro
• 01:19 Hard Truth #1 — Cash Is King at the Top End
• 03:00 Hard Truth #2 — Luxury Resale Condos Are a Buyer’s Market
• 05:51 Hard Truth #3 — Grove Is Tight, Downtown/Sunny Isles Are Loose
• 07:28 Hard Truth #4 — Miami Beach SFH Softening = Opportunity
• 09:30 Hard Truth #5 — New Developments Boost Choice, Pressure Resales
• 10:56 Hard Truth #6 — Costs Rising, Older Condos Struggle
• 13:01 Hard Truth #7 — Time to Contract Is Stretching
• 14:34 Hard Truth #8 — Delistings High, Off-Market Is Real Market
• 16:25 Hard Truth #9 — Segment Divide on the Beach ($6–$10M Struggles)
• 20:21 Hard Truth #10 — Overpriced New Builds Failing to Sell
• 23:03 Hard Truth #11 — Miami Holds Two National Price Records
• 24:25 Wrap-Up

📬 Read the full article with charts + stats → https://luxlifemiamiblog.com/11-hard-truths-about-the-2025-miami-luxury-real-estate-market-august-2025-report/

📲 Follow me on Instagram → @thedavidsiddonsgroup

🌐 Explore listings & market reports → luxlifemiamiblog.com

🌐 Discover Miami’s best new construction → newconstructioncondomiami.com

#MiamiRealEstate #MiamiLuxuryRealEstate #MiamiMarket2025 #MiamiBeach #CoconutGrove #Brickell #SunnyIsles #LuxuryCondos #LuxuryHomes #DavidSiddonsGroup

🎙 BETTER DECISIONS PODCAST
How to Screw Up a $10M Luxury Home Build in Miami

In this episode of Better Decisions, I sit down with Dany Sebaaly, luxury builder and founder of Builcore, to unpack the 11 most critical lessons in custom homebuilding. From choosing the right land to avoiding costly “white box” mistakes, we break down the pitfalls that can turn a $10M dream home into a financial nightmare.

With over 25 years of experience and a portfolio of Miami’s finest luxury residences, Dany shares insider insights on construction costs, true luxury finishes, timelines, and why architecture and landscaping make or break profitability.

Whether you’re a buyer, builder, or investor, this episode is a blueprint for protecting your vision—and your wallet.

• 00:00 Introduction
• 03:21 Lesson 1 – Choosing the Right Land
• 05:26 Lesson 2 – Understanding Market Ceilings
• 09:02 Lesson 3 – Don’t Underestimate Construction Costs
• 13:12 Lesson 4 – Defining True Luxury
• 21:32 Lesson 5 – Move Beyond the White Box
• 23:22 Lesson 6 – Landscaping as a Value Driver
• 26:54 Lesson 7 – Don’t Cut Corners on Architecture
• 29:06 Lesson 8 – Build the Right Size & Layout
• 35:08 Lesson 9 – Timeline & Profitability
• 36:36 Lesson 10 – Market Cycles & Scarcity
• 44:16 Lesson 11 – Commit to True Luxury
• 45:28 Final Thoughts & Takeaways

🔗 Read the full blog article here:
https://luxlifemiamiblog.com

Dany Sebaaly is the founder of Builcore, a Miami-based construction company specializing in luxury single-family homes, high-end condo buildouts, and select commercial projects. With more than two decades of experience, Dany is known for delivering residences that set record prices while redefining true luxury through detail, durability, and design.

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🌐 Explore listings & reports → https://www.luxlifemiamiblog.com

#MiamiLuxuryHomes #CustomHomebuilding #LuxuryRealEstate #BetterDecisionsPodcast #DavidSiddons