To research the history of a house or a family in Homestead, start with three free public sources: the Miami-Dade Property Appraiser's records for the property's year built and ownership, the Miami-Dade Clerk's official records for deeds and other recorded documents, and the local history museum in the 1917 town hall, which keeps a research library. From there, add census records, old newspapers, historic photographs from Florida Memory and, for older buildings, the state's Florida Master Site File. This page lays out a step-by-step method and a table of sources so you know where to look and what each one can tell you.
Before you start: what you already have
Write down everything you know before searching. For a house, that means the current address, the folio or parcel number if you have it, any old addresses, and family stories about who built or owned it. For a family, gather names, approximate dates, churches, schools, employers and military service. Homestead's history has several big breaks, especially the 1926 hurricane and land bust, the arrival of the air base in 1942 and Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Knowing which side of those dates your house or family falls on will save time. The Homestead history timeline is a quick reference.
Step by step: researching a house
- Look up the property appraiser record. Search the address on the Miami-Dade Property Appraiser's website. The record typically shows the folio number, the current owner, building details such as the year built and square footage, and recent sales. Treat the year built as a starting point; it is sometimes an estimate.
- Trace the deeds. Use the folio number and owner names to search the Clerk's official records for deeds, mortgages and plats. Recent decades are searchable online; older documents may require a request in person or by mail.
- Find the subdivision plat. The legal description on the deed names the subdivision. The recorded plat shows when the land was divided and by whom, often in the railroad era.
- Check permits. Ask the City of Homestead, or Miami-Dade County for unincorporated areas such as the Redland, how to request past building permits. Permits can show additions, re-roofing and repairs after hurricanes.
- Check historic listings. See whether the building is part of a local designation or on the National Register. The guide to National Register sites in South Miami-Dade lists the area's entries, and the historic preservation guide explains local designation.
- Search the Florida Master Site File. The state's inventory of recorded historic structures and archaeological sites is maintained by the Division of Historical Resources. Anyone can request information, and private citizens can use it free of charge, though some information, especially about archaeological sites, is restricted.
- Look at old photos and maps. Historic aerial photographs and street photographs can show when a house first appears and how the neighborhood changed.
Step by step: researching a family
- Census records. Federal census records are released 72 years after each count, so the 1950 census is the most recent available. They place families at an address and list household members, ages, birthplaces and occupations.
- City directories. Where they exist for the area, directories list residents, addresses and jobs year by year between censuses.
- Newspapers. Local and Miami newspapers covered births, weddings, deaths, school events and farm news. Digitized collections are available through libraries and the Library of Congress.
- Vital records. Florida birth, death, marriage and divorce records are held by the state, and access rules depend on the record type and its age.
- Military records. Many Homestead families have ties to the air base. Service records for veterans are held by the National Archives; the page on Homestead Air Reserve Base history has more research ideas.
- Churches, schools and cemeteries. Congregation records, yearbooks and cemetery records often fill gaps that government records leave.
Where to look: sources and what they hold
| Source | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Miami-Dade Property Appraiser | Year built, owner, folio number, sales | Free online search |
| Miami-Dade Clerk official records | Deeds, mortgages, plats, liens | Online for recent decades; older records by request |
| Local history museum in the old town hall | Photographs, artifacts, local research files | Ask the museum about research access |
| Florida Memory (State Library and Archives of Florida) | Digitized photographs and documents | Free online at floridamemory.com |
| Florida Master Site File | Recorded historic structures and sites | Request through the Division of Historical Resources |
| National Register nomination files | Detailed histories of listed buildings and districts | Available through the National Park Service |
| National Archives | Census, military and immigration records | Many records also on genealogy platforms |
| Public and university libraries | Newspapers, local histories, special collections | Ask about Florida and Miami-area collections |
Special challenges in Homestead
- Hurricane losses. Andrew destroyed homes, businesses and personal papers in 1992. Some family records survive only in copies held by relatives or institutions elsewhere.
- Changing addresses. Streets in Miami-Dade use a county grid, but older addresses and street names may differ from today's. Check plats and old directories.
- City versus county. Many places with a Homestead mailing address are outside city limits, in the Redland or other unincorporated areas, so the right permit office may be the county's.
- Annexations. City limits have changed over time, including annexations in the late 1990s, so a property's records may sit with different offices for different years.
- Farm labor history. Seasonal and migrant workers were essential to the farm economy but are often poorly documented in standard records. Church, school and labor records may help.
Tips for better results
- Search every spelling of a family name; census takers and clerks often misspelled names.
- Keep a log of what you searched, where and when, including searches that found nothing.
- Photograph or scan records at high resolution and note the source on every file.
- Be respectful of current residents. Researching a house does not entitle anyone to visit or photograph it from private property.
Official state information about the Master Site File is on the Florida Division of Historical Resources website.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find out when my Homestead house was built?
Start with the Miami-Dade Property Appraiser's record, which lists a year built. Confirm it with deeds, the subdivision plat, building permits and old aerial photographs, since the listed year is sometimes an estimate.
Where can I find old deeds in Miami-Dade County?
The Miami-Dade Clerk keeps official records, including deeds and plats. Recent decades can be searched online, while older documents may need to be requested in person or by mail.
Can I visit the Homestead history museum's archives?
The museum in the historic town hall keeps a research library. Contact the museum to ask how and when researchers can use it before going.
What is the Florida Master Site File?
It is the state's official inventory of recorded historic structures and archaeological sites, kept by the Division of Historical Resources. Anyone can request information, though some site details are restricted.
What is the most recent census I can search?
Federal census records are released 72 years after the count, so the 1950 census is currently the most recent one available to the public.