The South Florida rental market has cooled after experiencing huge rent hikes coming out of the pandemic.

The big picture: The median rent in Miami has fallen since 2024, though it still exceeds the statewide median of $1,593, according to a report from Zumper.

• Even South Florida's least affordable cities have seen rents fall since last year.

What they found: 1-bedroom rents in Miami, Miami Beach, Doral, Aventura and Fort Lauderdale all declined year-over-year in June, per Zumper, though median rents are still at or above $2,000 in these markets.

• Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in the city of Miami was down 3.6% in June, but the median rent in the city tops the entire metro area at $2,700.

Zoom in: The biggest annual rent declines were in Broward County.

• Dania Beach's median rent fell 14.3% to $1,800 for a 1-bedroom apartment.
• Hallandale Beach saw median rent drop 10.8% to $1,900.
• Hollywood had the third-largest decrease with 9.8%, bringing its median rent to $1,850.

Budget-friendly: These were the most affordable median rents in South Florida last month:

• Margate ($1,500)
• Miami Gardens ($1,590)
• Lauderhill ($1,600)
• Lake Worth ($1,600)

What they're saying: Rents in cities like Miami and Miami Beach "have been softening due to a surge in new supply hitting the market," Zumper spokesperson Crystal Chen tells Axios.

• "Vacancy rates have crept up as a result, giving renters more options and slightly more leverage," Chen wrote in an email.

On the flip side, the surrounding suburbs in cities like Davie and Tamarac "haven't experienced the same level of new construction, so rent trends there remain more stable," Chen says.

• "They're also likely absorbing overflow demand from renters looking for more space or affordability, as prices in these areas are significantly lower than in Miami's urban core."

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Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi remains the highest-paid player in Major League Soccer, the MLS Players Association's latest salary guide shows.

Why it matters: Messi's guaranteed compensation of $20.4 million is higher than 20 other teams' total guaranteed compensation.

By the numbers: Inter Miami as a whole has a guaranteed compensation of $46.8 million, up from $41.7 million last year.

• It also accounts for three of the league's highest-paid players.

Between the lines: Spending a lot of money on players, even one of the best players in the world, doesn't guarantee wins. Messi and Inter Miami sit fifth in the Eastern Conference as of July 11.

What we're watching: MLS is more than halfway through its season, but there's still plenty of time for some teams to make the playoffs.

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Archbishop of Miami Thomas Wenski has denounced the political rhetoric surrounding Alligator Alcatraz and raised concerns about the conditions at the Everglades immigration detention facility. (Miami Herald)

🙌 Hall of Fame NFL receiver Randy Moss launched Crisppi's, his new chicken restaurant, in downtown Miami and will serve food at Hard Rock Stadium during Dolphins home games. (Sun Sentinel)

Mangoes contain multitudes. Not only are there over 400 varieties in Miami alone, but there are multiple ways to enjoy them and even two acceptable ways to spell the word "mangos!"

• In Friday's mango season deep dive, we asked readers to share how they like to eat their mangoes.

Here's how you answered

• 38% cut them into small, bite-size pieces.
• 20% eat them with your hands over the sink.

😎 One reader says they peel and slice them into chunks but go "full hands over the sink for the pit."

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Pembroke Pines Vice Mayor Michael "Mike" Hernández sent in a photo of his mango bounty — reminding us that mango culture spreads into Broward County and beyond.