Miami Real Estate Review – Episode 14

Topics we cover in our 14 episode of Miami Real Estate:

  • Trump Towers 3 condos in Sunny Isles Beach are now available for sale
  • 1800 Club announces a developer blow-out sale of their last 30 remaining condos
  • Media towers passes final vote
  • The developer of Artecity, a South Beach condo development, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection

High Stakes Poker Has Arrived in South Florida

Today we discussed two new Florida laws that went into effect July 1, 2010. The first being the change which gives condo associations the authority to collect rent directly from tenants if the owner is delinquent on their homeowners association dues. The second being that no-limit poker is now permissible throughout the state of Florida. This will not only attract the big money tournaments but also some of the world’s best poker players.

Four Great Condo Foreclosure Deals on the Market Now

In this video segment, we highlight four condo foreclosure deals that are available at this time.  These condos reside at 900 Biscayne Bay, Blue Condominium, The Club at Brickell Bay and Icon South Beach.  Give us a call at 305-428-3860 if you would like to learn more about these opportunities or other foreclosure deals now on the market.

Miami Welcomes Times Square – City Approves Electronic Billboards With 5-0 Vote

Looks like Miami will continue to be the “Bright Lights, Big City” of the South.  The Miami City Commission, earlier today, approved a change in a zoning ordinance which would allow developer Marc Siffin to erect a pair of electronic billboards atop an eight-story parking garage next to the Adrienne Arsht Center which is located in the Arts + Entertainment District of Miami.  According to the Miami Herald’s report, Siffin will pay an annual permitting fee of $2.2M to the city and has agreed to contribute $8M toward the construction of Museum Park as part of a concession package.

Miami Electronic billboards

Miami electronic billboards

Miami electronic billboards

Shrinking Rental Inventory in Brickell and Downtown

In this episode, we discuss the shrinking rental inventory of condos in Brickell and Downtown Miami.  In recent months, it has become increasingly more difficult to find a rental in these neighborhoods than it has since the peak of the market.  For example, at this time The Plaza on Brickell, which has 1,000 total units, only has two unfurnished one bedrooms available while 1060 Brickell has zero.  We highlight eight other well known condo buildings in these areas and provide an overview of the rental availability within them.

Ten Highest Closed Sales Within the Past Six Months in Miami-Dade County

Setai Penthouse B

The following are the 10 highest luxury condo sales that have closed in Miami-Dade County within the past six months:

  1. The Setai South Beach – Penthouse B – 4 bedroom/4 bath (6,208 square feet) – This condo sold for $15M, or $2,416 per square foot, on June 4, 2010.  It was listed for $19,999,999.
  2. Santa Maria – Unit 4901 – 3 bedroom/5 bath (10,000 square feet) – This condo sold for $11M, or $1,100 per square foot, on May 21, 2010.  It was listed for $12.9M.
  3. Fontaintebleau II – Penthouse NO – 5 bedroom/5 bath (4,500 square feet) – This condo sold for $9M, or $2,000 per square foot, on May 14, 2010.  It was listed for $9.8M.
  4. One Bal Harbour – Penthouse 2108 – 4 bedroom/4.5 bath (5,262 square feet) – This condo sold for $8.7M, or 1,653 per square foot, on May 25, 2010.  It was listed for $12M.
  5. Villa del Mare – Unit 7223 – 4 bedroom/5 bath/2 half bath (6,820 square feet) – This condo sold for $6.75M, or $990 per square foot, on March 1, 2010.  It was listed for $8M.
  6. Apogee South Beach – Unit 904 – 4 bedroom/4.5 bath (4,154 square feet) – This condo sold for $6.55M, or $1,577 per square foot, on May 21, 2010.  It was listed for $6.85M.
  7. Apogee South Beach – Unit 1801 – 4 bedroom/3 bath (4,154 square feet) – This condo sold for $5.9M, or $1,420 per square foot, on April 16, 2010.  It was listed for $6,795,000.
  8. Apogee South Beach – Unit 604 – 4 bedroom/3.5 bath (4,154 square feet) – This condo sold for $5.8M, or $1,396 per square foot, on June 18, 2010.  It was listed for $6.25M.
  9. Apogee South Beach – Unit 704 – 4 bedroom/3.5 bath (4,154 square feet) – This condo sold for $5.3M, or $1,276 per square foot, on March 18, 2010.  It was listed for $5.8M.
  10. Ocean Tower One – Unit 501 – 4 bedroom/5.5 bath (5,403 square feet) – This condo sold for $5.2M, or $962 per square foot, on June 3, 2010.  It was listed for $6.25M.

It’s Not About the Money…It’s About the Sun, the Fun and the Rings!!!

LeBron James Dwyane Wade Chris Bosh Miami Heat

They say Rome was not built in a day.  I tell you tonight that the Three Wise Men of Miami have built Downtown Miami within a night.  The Three Wise Men offer not gold, frankincense and myrrh but instead development, commerce and beer.   The drinks will flow in Downtown Miami.  The crowds will cheer, the people will spend and those who might be fortunate enough to witness NBA’s greatest team will be merry.  This is an era of Miami basketball that will be long remembered, but never forgotten.

As I sit in Downtown Miami listening to the sounds of car horns filling the sky, I can only think of one thing.  This is the single greatest moment for the City of Miami.  Bigger than the movie Scarface, which put Miami on the map.  Bigger than Miami Vice.  Bigger than all of the rock stars, models and paparazzi who followed the celebrities in the 1980s to their paradise enclave.  That was their Miami.  Today, I present to you the new Miami.  This is the beginning of something bigger and better than any developer or city official had ever envisioned for the city.  This is Miami Bitch!  And Miami’s Three Wise Men will proliferate an era within Downtown Miami within two years that could never be achieved within two decades.

Miami was the hotbed of the recent national real estate crisis. The epicenter of investor speculation.  The Godfather of mortgage fraud.  Prices tumbled here 50-70 percent from the peak.  It was ripe for the picking.  Miami was where real estate investment dreams were made.  This was it.  This was the moment where five years from now everyone who was fortunate enough to be connected to the City of Miami could say, “Damn…I coulda, shoulda, woulda”.  Tonight was the moment where In one fell swoop, that was all washed away.  Long forgotten.

LeBron and his crew, made up of Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, made the statement that it’s not about the money…it’s about the sun, the fun, the glitz, the glamour, the neon lights and the championships.  The three perennial athletes proved tonight that it’s more about their legacy than it is about the benjamins.  It has been written that Benjamin Franklin once started off his day by asking the question, “What good shall I do this day?” and ending it with “What good have I done this day?”.  There’s no question that the newly crowned Kings of Miami have done very much good for the City of Miami and ohhhh so much good for Downtown Miami.  It’s not about the money.  It’s about the good of the city and, as I’ve said for weeks, LeBron James joining the Miami Heat, will do more good for the city than ten condo developers building ten glitzy high-rises could ever do for the city.

Rumor: LeBron James Makes Offer on $49.5M Gables Estates Home

LeBron James pondering decision

Rumors swirled earlier this afternoon that LeBron James had made an offer on a $40M waterfront home in Coral Gables.  My sources tell me that the offer was made on a 20,862 square foot mansion located at 11 Casuarina Concourse in the Gables Estates neighborhood of Coral Gables.  The 8 bedroom/11 bath/2 half bath palace sits on a 3.6 acre lot with 880 feet of water frontage and comes with a dock to accommodate a 150-foot yacht.  The Miami luxury home was previously listed for $49.5M before the listing expired on May 31, 2010.  The Gables Estates waterfront home, which was purchased in July 1987 for 2,018,000,  is currently owned by luxury auto dealer Alan Potamkin of Potamkin Auto Gallery.

11 Casuarina Concourse Coral Gables Florida

LeBron James Coral Gables Home

tennis court

Backyard of LeBron James Coral Gables Home

fitness center

formal dining room

kitchen

study

outdoor seating area

11 Casuarina game room

Miami skyline and Downtown Miami view

Homes Fit for a King – Top 5 Coral Gables Homes That LeBron James May Have in Mind

LeBron James Miami

If the rumors are true, and LeBron James did in fact make an offer on a luxury waterfront home in Coral Gables earlier today, then chances are that he made an offer on one of the following luxury homes located in Coral Gables:

620 Arvida Parkway Coral Gables

620 Arvida Parkway – Asking Price $24.5M.  7 Bedroom/7 Bath/3 Half Bath with 16,435 square feet of interior sitting on a 46,609 square foot lot.  This luxury mansion comes with 2 staff rooms, formal living room, formal dining room, 4-car garage, generator and swimming pool.  While this may be the most expensive home currently available in Coral Gables, it is unlikely that LeBron James would make an offer on it simply because it will not be completed for another year and a half.  That is unless, of course, he doesn’t mind being put up in LeBron’s Future Miami Penthouse across the street from the American Airlines Arena at Marina Blue for the next year and a half.

400 Arvida Parkway Coral Gables

400 Arvida Parkway – Asking Price $20.5M.  8 Bedroom/9 Bath/4 Half Bath luxury home with 13,469 interior square feet sitting on a 41,382 lot.  This waterfront mansion has 180 feet of water frontage and includes a dining room, wine cellar, media room, library/music room, garden room, 2 staff rooms, gym, Infinity-edge pool and spa and Chihuly chandelier.

181 Leucadendra Drive Coral Gables

181 Leucadendra Drive – Asking Price $17.9M.  7 Bedroom/7 Bath/1 Half Bath with 14,946 interior square feet sitting on a 48,274 square foot lot.  This Mediterranean-style home was completed in 2004 and has 270 feet of water frontage.

5 Tahiti Beach Road Coral Gables

5 Tahiti Beach Road – Asking Price $16.9M.  10 Bedroom/9 Bath/0 Half Bath waterfront mansion with 11,533 interior square feet sitting on a 37,374 square foot lot.  This Tahiti Beach luxury home has a private beach overlooking Biscayne Bay.  My vote is that LeBron James decided to go with this home in Coral Gables.  Tahiti Beach is known for having spectacular security. It may not be the most expensive home of the five but security must be at the top of King James’ list when weighing out his options.

200 Edgewater Drive Coral Gables

200 Edgewater Drive – Asking Price $13.9M.  7 Bedroom/5 Bath/1 Half Bath home with 11,865 interior square feet sitting on a massive 130,680 square foot lot.  This historically designated estate has a tennis court, swimming pool, 4-car garage and staff quarters.  The lot may be huge but the water frontage is very small.

LeBron James Makes Offer on Multi-Million Dollar Waterfront Home in Coral Gables

LeBron James NBA

BleacherReport.com source reveals that LeBron James made an offer today on a multi-million dollar waterfront home in Coral Gables.  If this holds to be true then it only makes sense that King James has plans to join the Miami Heat along with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

He may be in the market for a waterfront home in Miami but we still have LeBron’s penthouse across the street from the American Airlines Arena waiting for him.  It would make for a nice party pad or for nights when he’s too tired to make the drive home.