New Report Shows Miami as the Most Competitive Rental Market in the United States
Renting is at its greatest level in fifty years, with almost 44 million American households renting. However, some renters found it difficult to find a new place to call home in 2022, particularly in the highly sought-after South Florida region, which has long been a popular relocation destination for individuals from all over the country.
Additionally, in the past two years, more people have relocated to the Sunshine State as a result of laxer rules and the growing use of remote work. As a result, migrants found themselves in a competitive market with local residents looking for units, making Miami-Dade the most popular rental market in the country.
RentCafe.com examined the 135 biggest U.S. markets examing five crucial metrics that include the number of days apartments were vacant, the percentage of occupied rentals, the number of prospective renters, the percentage of rental renewals, and the share of apartments completed for the year.
The largest metro areas in Florida opened new apartments this year more quickly than any other city in the nation. However, this was still insufficient to meet the rising demand in such a well-liked location.
Due to record-high occupancy and high lease renewal rates, Miami had the hottest rental market in the United States. Numerous Millennials and even members of Generation Z who wanted to work and live in the Sunshine State were drawn due to a number of factors, including the absence of a state income tax, the business-friendly environment, and the thriving tech scene.
Renters in Miami are in a very difficult situation because practically all units are occupied, especially since 75% of apartment residents choose to stay put this year. As a result, Miami’s rental apartments were full in 25 days on average, with a record-breaking 32 renters competing for each available property. Additionally, despite the metro area’s stunning 2.8% rise in apartment supply in the first half of the year (the highest growth rate among the top 20 cities in the ranking), the high demand for rentals is still far from being satisfied.
Notably, the city’s favorable business environment, which draws corporate relocations and expansions, maybe the cause of this demand. Orlando is also a member of the Florida High Tech Corridor, which attracts business people, students, and young professionals.
Florida welcomed the newest residents between 2020 and 2021, according to the US Census Bureau (220,890 people looking to escape high taxes and frigid winters in the North). Arizona (170,307) and Texas (170,307) were much behind it (93,026). And even while developers are hard at work constructing apartments all around Florida, the supply of recently created rentals is just insufficient to meet the soaring demand for housing.
Casa Tua Announced in Brickell by Fortune International Group
In Miami’s Brickell district, Fortune International Group is developing Casa Tua, an opulent residential skyscraper that will allow short-term rentals.
According to Fortune CEO Edgardo Defortuna, Ora by Casa Tua, a 70-story development with roughly 460 residential units, is proposed for the 1210 Brickell Avenue site. Early in the next year, Fortune will start accepting reservations.
The skyscraper will be the company’s first residential development. According to insiders, Miky and Leti Grendene’s hospitality business has been in discussions with developers for a long time. The Food Hall on Saks Fifth Avenue in Brickell City Centre and the Casa Tua main location are both in Miami Beach. Additionally, a Casa Tua Cucina restaurant will open in Miami’s Wynwood’s planned Nomad Wynwood Residences development.
Two new restaurant concepts, a 24-hour market, entertainment lounge, fitness, and wellness center, a three-story sky garden, and a rooftop club with a pool, jacuzzi, cabanas, and a bar will all be included in the mixed-use Brickell tower. The hotel management and marketing will be handled by Casa Tua.
According to Defortuna, the condos will have sizes ranging from 600 square feet for studios to 2,400 square feet for four bedrooms, with prices between $800,000 and $2.5 million. Defortuna predicts that a sizeable fraction of owners will profit from the option for buyers to rent out the apartments on a short-term basis. The lowest two-thirds of the skyscraper will feature between eight and ten units per floor, while the upper third of the tower will have fewer, larger units with an average of six units on each level.
The building is geared toward a younger clientele and offers a wine-tasting bar, a 24-hour grocery and bakery, a restaurant near the pool, and an equipped lobby.
Depending on sales milestones, he said, construction may start in late 2023 or early 2024.
According to property records, the property is owned by Patagonian Investment Internacional LLC, which is run by Argentine investors Federico Carabetta and Vicente Luis Carabetta. Next year, Fortune will close the location and destroy the parking garage to make way for Ora by Casa Tua. The garage is close to the office building at 1200 Brickell Avenue, which still houses the Dirty French Steakhouse owned by Major Food Group.
Casa Tua has outlets outside of Miami in Aspen and Paris and will establish a restaurant and lounge in New York City in Surrey, a Reuben Brothers venture, the following year.
Taurus Investment Holdings and The Congress Group Switch Civica Development from Office to Residential
The focus of Civica’s plans is shifting from offices to residences in recently updated plans for the development. In the previous plans, the development was set to rise 22 stories tall with a height change to 27 stories or 310 feet.
The changes also include 342 residential units, luxury amenities, commercial and office space, and an 8-level garage with 590 parking spaces.
The property is located five minutes walk from the Civic Center Metrorail station. The land sits right behind the 836 Expressway, which is being reconstructed as part of the Signature Bridge project.
Currently on the site is a three-story shopping center with 74,463 square feet, as well as a 4,768 square-foot bank branch. While the tower is being constructed, both of those buildings would still be present, albeit their parking spaces would be moved to the new parking garage for the complex.
The Miami Urban Development Review Board is scheduled to examine the project at a hearing on December 21. The architect for the project is listed as Cube 3 and the developers include Boston-based, Taurus Investment Holdings, and The Congress Group. The developer purchased the site for a combined $30.5 million in 2020.
Cherit Group Announces 4 Tower New Development -The River District
The New York-based developer Chetrit Group has announced a groundbreaking new district that will transform over six acres of the Miami River’s waterfront into a premier destination for art, entertainment, music, and culture as Miami’s bustling Brickell neighborhood transforms into one of the country’s most desirable urban cores.
The River District, a Brickell megaproject, is being planned with a total of four skyscrapers containing residential units, offices, and rentals with the first residential tower already under construction.
The River District will have 4 million square feet of new construction overall and will be located directly south of the Miami River.
The River District Amenities:
Yacht harbor (60 ft vessel accommodations)
1,600 homes
Class A office space
2,000 covered parking spaces
Nightclubs
Restaurants
Partnering with David Grutman of Groot Hospitality to offer dining and entertainment options. Additionally being planned are a riverwalk and marina. Architecture by Kobi Karp will be a part of the new development.
According to David Grutman, “The River District is going to be a highlight in Miami city’s ongoing transformation. Paired with Chetrit Group’s overall vision, I’m incredibly excited to bring Groot Hospitality to this game-changing development. We plan to feature versions of our existing concepts as well as all new ideas, across residential, restaurant, and entertainment spaces.”
Chetrit Group hired the highly regarded architecture and design firm Rockwell Group of New York for the interiors. For award-winning projects worldwide, including restaurants, hotels, airport terminals, and hospitals as well as festivals, museum displays, and Broadway sets, Rockwell Group is renowned for developing distinctive narratives. Each of The River District’s four skyscrapers stands out for its distinctive interpretation of the Brazilian tropical modernist motif.
The luxury condominium’s groundbreaking, which is anticipated to happen in early 2023 and is expected to be finished in 2026, will mark the start of the following phase.
New Renderings Revealed for Surf Row Residences in Surfside
In June 2022, Linéaire Group revealed plans for an 8-unit development known as Surf Row Residences. The collection located in the Surfside neighborhood of Miami aspires to usher in the next phase of urban beach life and is inspired by Surfside’s rich legacy and natural beauty.
Designed by award-winning firm Rene Gonzalez Architects (RGA), the development offers refined interiors, the utmost privacy, and unparalleled indoor-outdoor living adjacent to the beach. Only a few residences have been released and sales are currently by invitation only.
Through the careful use of skylights, layered glass, and double-height ceilings, each villa emphasizes the indoor-outdoor link. Three to five-bedroom residences with 3,500 to 5,600 square feet of internal space are available. Each residence will feature almost 2,000 square feet of private outdoor living space, including a rooftop with a plunge pool, a summer kitchen, and a large gazebo. Each property will also include a private garage and a front yard that is enclosed. Prices start at around $5.9 million for a luxury unit.
Residence Features
European kitchen with custom-designed wood cabinetry, imported marble countertops, and professional-grade appliances
Large format coral stone flooring with natural wood inlay designs
Floating staircases made with cantilevered solid wood slabs & glass panel railings
Spa-inspired master bathroom furnished with a luxurious rain shower, oversized freestanding tub, and finished with imported fluted marble walls
Skylights flood the interior with natural light via a central light shaft spanning all levels
Rooftop with summer kitchen and plunge pool
Two-car indoor garages, plus one open-air parking space
Latest smart home automation by Savant
Top-of-the-line security system with exterior surveillance cameras
Private elevator
Service/laundry room Upgrades
Kosher kitchen
Elevator lift for additional parking
Interior surveillance package
The 0.65-acre development property is located between Collins Avenue and Harding Avenue on 88th Street’s northern frontage. The property was purchased from the previous owner for $7.3 million by an associate of Lineaire Group in August 2021.
The project is slated to break ground in Q2 of 2023 with completion scheduled for Q4 of 2024. If you or someone you know have an interest in purchasing at Surf Row Residences, please contact Lucas Lechuga via email at [email protected] or by phone at (786)247-6332.
New Development Announced in Brickell-Westpine
Westpine, a 43-story residential tower, has just had its plans submitted in Brickell. Westpine will have a 474-foot high peak and will feature 328 residential units, 1,155 square feet of retail, and 357 spaces for parking.
A multifamily building with 24 units that was built in 1964 is currently on the 0.7-acre site.
Westpine Brickell LLC is listed as the developer and Behar Font Partners as the architect. Westpine Brickell LLC, an affiliate of Westpine partners originally purchased the site for $11.53 million.
Instead of being referred to the City of Miami for review under city zoning regulations, the project was submitted to the Miami-Dade County Planners for review under their Rapid Transit Zoning Metromover Subzone.
On December 9, a pre-application meeting with county planners was sought.
Brickell, also known as the Financial District of Miami, is home to a large number of international banks such as HSBC, Espirito Santo Bank, and Banco Santander.
These Brickell Miami banks are predominantly located along Brickell Avenue – the main thoroughfare running through Brickell Miami and extending north to south from the Brickell Avenue Bridge to the Rickenbacker Causeway.
Brickell Miami is considered to be one of South Florida’s most prestigious neighborhoods and is a perennial favorite place to live among affluent, young professionals.
Let’s Take a Moment for Miami’s First Vermouth Bar-Victoria’s Vinos y Vermuteria
The team behind LoKal, Kush, and Spillover, Matt Kuscher and Kush Hospitality will debut their newest concept, Victoria’s Vinos y Vermuteria, a Spanish vermouth, and natural wine bar located in Coconut Grove. Victoria’s Vinos y Vermuteria will be located at Vicky’s House, a former milkshake stand and beer store for Kush.
The first woman in the industry to design and open a vermouth bar in the United States, Corporate Beverage Director Cristina Suarez, helped launch the establishment. The bar itself has a strong emphasis on Spanish wines and ciders, large-format craft beers, and a variety of unique house-made vermouths.
Suarez has fallen in love with vermouth thanks to her research and education to the point where mezcal is no longer her preferred libation. Suarez states, “We want them to have a special, instructive, and private experience and leave here feeling they have learned something new in a stylish, sexy atmosphere. We’re not expecting them to discover the enthusiasm we might have for vermouths.”
The bar itself is designed to serve as both a “waiting room” for LoKal patrons and a stand-alone attraction, making it ideal for couples out on a date. Along with fantastic pours, it will serve small foods in the tapas manner, charcuterie boards, Chicken Skins, and Sandwich de Mescla, Caviar, Pan con Tomate, and more. Vermouths will be offered in a variety of designs and flavor profiles, with options that are both common and uncommon.
The highlight of Victoria’s menu is vermouth, a bittersweet fortified wine that has been spiked with alcohol and laced with herbs. Kuscher’s signature blend, which is described as “Christmasy and warm on the palate,” as well as a second, lighter variety by Suarez called Titi Marie vermouth are just two of the house-made vermouths served in the new establishment, which was launched in collaboration with Kush’s corporate beverage director Cristina Suarez.
Many natural wines, Spanish ciders (poured in the Asturian manner of extended pouring), large format craft beers, tapas-style small meals, charcuterie boards, “not-so-fancy” tea sandwiches, caviar, and other items are also available.
Victoria’s is officially open today and their hours include Wednesday through Sunday, 5 pm to close.
Miami Worldcenter Completes Construction on 255,000 Square Feet of Retail Space
The Miami Worldcenter’s “Jewel Box,” which has a contemporary design and is enclosed in floor-to-ceiling glass, is situated at the intersection of the 7th Street Promenade and World Paseo open-air retail pedestrian streets, directly west of the development’s upcoming CitizenM boutique hotel and north of the finished luxury apartment tower Bezel Miami.
Approximately 255,000 square feet of retail space have now been finished at Miami Worldcenter with the completion of F-East as tenants actively finish out their spaces.
Another 80,000 square feet of lifestyle-focused retail space has been constructed by Miami Worldcenter’s developers. Block F-East, a standalone structure that is part of the $4 billion mixed-use complex in the center of Downtown Miami, is one of the last retail components of the 27-acre project to be completed.
Sephora, lululemon, Savage x Fenty, Ray-Ban, Posman Books, and Lucid Motors are among the impressive list of recently opened and upcoming tenants at Miami Worldcenter. Other dining and entertainment options include Bowlero, Sports & Social, Michelin-starred Chef Michael Beltran’s Brasserie Laurel, El Vecino, and Chicago’s Maple & Ash and Etta restaurants.
The 300,000 square feet of retail, restaurant, and entertainment space at Miami Worldcenter, one of the largest private urban real estate developments in Florida, will be complemented by a variety of residential, business, and hospitality applications.
Miami Worldcenter Associates, directed by Principal Art Falcone and Managing Partner Nitin Motwani, and CIM Group are the project’s master developers.
Three finished residential towers—the PARAMOUNT Miami Worldcenter, Caoba, and Bezel Miami—can now be found in Miami Worldcenter. The 351-room CitizenM hotel is now finished with construction and is scheduled to debut at Miami Worldcenter in the first quarter of 2023.
In addition, work is being done on phase one of the 52-story Miami World Towers, which will include 550 apartment units, Legacy Hotel & Residences, a mixed-use building with 310 branded residences atop a hotel and 50,000 square feet of medical office space, and Caoba’s second phase, which will include a nearby 40-story tower with 420 apartments.
There are several planned projects, including The Crosby, a 450-unit turn-key condominium by Related Group and Merrimac Ventures, and 600 Miami Worldcenter, a 579-unit fully furnished condominium by Aria Development Group and Merrimac Ventures, a mixed-use residential and commercial development by Abbhi Capital, a residential development by the New York-based Naftali Group, and a three-tower mixed-use project by The Witkoff Group that will have up to 2,000
World Square, a 20,000-square-foot outdoor public plaza and park, will complement Miami Worldcenter’s shopping streets. With its abundance of open space, shade trees, and spacious, pedestrian-friendly sidewalks lined with food, entertainment, and retail concepts, World Square is intended to act as the hub of the development.
A $5 million public art project at Miami Worldcenter, organized by the Miami-based curatorial collective PRIMARY and renowned art dealer Jeffrey Deitch, would turn the 27-acre “city within a citystreets “‘s and buildings into a permanent outdoor art museum. Large-scale murals, paintings, and sculptures produced by internationally renowned artists such as Nina Chanel Abney, Woody De Othello, Viktor El-Saieh, Nick Cave, Trenton Doyle Hancock, Hernan Bas, Serge Toussaint, Zadok Ben-David, and Franz Ackermann will be included in the program once it is finished.
Ten city blocks make up Miami Worldcenter, which is next to Museum Park, which is home to the Frost Museum of Science and Pérez Art Museum Miami, as well as the FTX Arena, Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, and Wolfson Campus of Miami Dade College. Miami Worldcenter is the largest and best-connected transit-oriented development in Florida thanks to its proximity to Brightline’s MiamiCentral station, which provides direct train service to Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Orlando and access to Tri-Rail, the Metromover, and the Metrorail.
Location Ventures Breaks Ground on URBIN Miami Beach
URBIN Miami Beach has officially broken ground. With developer Location Ventures, the achievement signifies the start of construction for the first-to-market mixed-use brand, which mixes design-forward residential units for short- or long-term rental with coworking spaces, wellness amenities, social activations, and lifestyle-oriented retail, all at one central address.
For the official groundbreaking event, which took place at the project site, 1260 Washington Ave., Location Ventures, development partners, and city representatives, Miami Beach Commissioner Alex Fernandez, Washington Avenue Business Development Executive Director Troy Wright, and Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber were among the distinguished visitors.
The URBIN brand portfolio’s initial property, URBIN Miami Beach, has a second location in Coconut Grove, with ambitions to expand to other U.S. cities. Once completed, URBIN Miami Beach will be a 69-unit tower with a number of wonderful amenities.
The development sold out quickly and drew a wide range of buyers from Latin America and Europe. 90% of the homes at URBIN Coconut Grove have already been sold, and construction is scheduled to begin at that location in 2023.
The fully furnished units at URBIN Miami Beach range in size from 275 square feet for studios to 1,334 square feet for four bedrooms with partial ocean views. Community, collaboration, and networking will be facilitated via shared spaces, such as a common kitchen, dining area, and living room. Exclusive access to a lease-back arrangement allowing up to 90 nights per year on the property will be available to unit owners only.
Tower Amenities
Valet parking
Concierge
Housekeeping
Room service
Rooftop bar and lounge with green spaces
Wellness center
Gourmet market
Cafe
Bar
Rishi Kapoor, CEO of Location Ventures, stated “Following enormous sales interest, we are pleased to commence the construction process for the first URBIN location at a ripe point in Miami Beach’s history.” The rapidly developing, storied Washington Avenue sector will benefit from this property’s integration of living, working, and wellness into one space.
Touzet Studio, headed by Carlos Prio-Touzet and Jacqueline Gonzalez-Touzet, created URBIN Miami Beach. The building’s exterior will reflect the whimsical spirit of Miami Beach by incorporating geometric patterns and hues that are common to the area and paying homage to its Art Deco past.
The interiors of its communal areas and amenities were chosen by Meyer Davis, a renowned New York City design firm. The home is located in the largest Art Deco neighborhood in the world, two blocks from the ocean, and close to Ocean Drive and Lincoln Road.