Latest Renderings of SLS Brickell Residences

SLS Brickell Residences

I have to admit, until just hours ago, I hadn’t been overly excited about the recently announced SLS Brickell Residences. The first rendering, which was released to the public about a month ago, was rather boring.  Being a foodie, the only thing that really excited me about the development was the fact that three amazing restaurants would be on-site: Bazaar by Jose Andres , Katsuya by Starck and a restaurant by Michael Schwartz.  I’m a big fan of Michael’s Genuine so to have a brand new restaurant by Michael Schwartz only an elevator ride away sounded very appealing to me. Oh, and having a 250-foot long elevated pool – which I’m sure will be surrounded by some of Miami’s most beautiful women – didn’t sound so bad either.  However, I just couldn’t get my mind off that very unexciting rendering of the development that made its way into my inbox last month.

That was the past though.  With the latest rendering above, I’m back on board and am very excited about SLS Brickell Residences.  It looks visually stunning and whoever created it did an outstanding job!  Street-level, the rendering gives off a sense of activity and energy, which I have no doubt will be delivered true to life given the inclusion of the SLS Hotel, the three aforementioned restaurants and on-site Jazz bar.  Mark my words, this is going to be the “in” place to be and live in Brickell once this development is completed.  The party starts here!

As I had previously posted, reservations for condos at SLS Brickell Residences are now being accepted.  Prices are expected to average around $500 per square foot.  I had previously been advising clients to stay away from the west-facing units because  they will look straight into units at Infinity at Brickell.  However, the rendering above shows that the west-facing units will also have the privilege of checking out the activity down below at the pool deck.  If you are planning to buy a west-facing unit, my advice is to go for a low floor.  There is no point in buying a high floor on the west side of the building when the action will be down below.  The price per square foot will be much lower as well.

Contact me if you have an interest in learning more about this exciting pre-construction condo and hotel development which will be located at 1300 South Miami Avenue in Brickell.  You can find the brochure, floor plans, video and other information regarding this development on my SLS Brickell Residences page.

SLS Brickell Residences view

SLS Brickell Residences Now Accepting Reservations

SLS Brickell Residences

The wait is over.  SLS Brickell Residences is now accepting reservations.  The recently announced pre-construction condo and hotel development will be located at 1300 South Miami Avenue, within walking distance to the shops and restaurants at Mary Brickell Village and upcoming Brickell CityCentre.  The luxury tower, which has been designed by Arquitectonica, will rise 51 stories and be comprised of 450 condo residences and 133 hotel rooms.  The SLS branded hotel component will take up the first nine floors.  The residential units will be located on floors 10 through 51 with 11 units per floor.  The ninth floor will house most of the amenities such as a 200-foot long elevated pool, spa deck, HYDE Bar and Lounge and CIEL Spa.  The building will also have an 8,000 square foot ballroom, state-of-the-art fitness center, screening rooms and 3,000 square foot business center with private meeting rooms.  A residents-only rooftop pool and lounge will encompass the entire top floor.  On the ground-level, there will be three incredible restaurants, including Katsuya by Starck, Bazaar by Jose Andres and a restaurant by Michael Schwartz of Michael Genuine.  Each unit will come with one assigned parking space.

SLS Brickell Residences site-plan

Please refer to my SLS Brickell Residences page for more information.  There, I have a full-color brochure, floor plans and video for the development.

To purchase a condo at SLS Brickell Residences, the payment structure is as follows:

  • 10% at reservation – NOW!
  • 10% at contract – June 2013
  • 10% at ground-breaking – Fall 2013
  • 10% at 25th floor slab – Mid-2014
  • 10% at top-off – Mid-2015
  • 50% at closing – Summer 2016

Contact me if  you have an interest in reserving a unit at SLS Brickell Residences.  You may reach me on my cell at 786-247-6332 or via email at [email protected].

7,400 Square Foot Penthouse at Villa Regina Sells for $1,925,000

Villa Regina PH-1

Last week, a 7,400 square foot penthouse at Villa Regina traded hands for $1,925,000, or $260 per square foot.  The 6 bedroom, 6.5 bath condo also included 1,600 square feet of balcony and a remarkable six assigned parking spaces!  The  residence has 10-foot high ceilings and offers spectacular views of Biscayne Bay, Key Biscayne and Brickell.  There is no doubt that this penthouse was sold at an amazing price but – before anyone gets all worked up about how they missed out on the deal of the century – let it be known that this property needed a lot of work.  I had the opportunity to tour the penthouse about a month ago.  Conservatively, I felt that it would require at least $100 per square foot to turn it into a penthouse-quality residence by today’s standards.  Regardless, even after forking over close to three-quarters of a million dollars (or more) in renovations alone, it would be well worth it.  A condo this large, and at this price point, just doesn’t exist in Brickell.

Brickell condos Miami

Construction Shot of the Rooftop Pool at myBrickell

myBrickell rooftop pool construction shot

Last week, while showing a unit on the southwest corner of Brickell on the River South, I was able to take this great shot of the pool deck at myBrickell.  As you can see, the pool deck is currently under construction.  I couldn’t help but notice that the shape of the pool looks different than what was proposed in the renderings below. Also, the view of Biscayne Bay to the east has somehow magically disappeared.

myBrickell pool deck

myBrickell rooftop pool deck

Not all is lost though.  Residents of myBrickell will have a front row seat to the construction site of Brickell CityCentere – the $1B+ mixed-used development which will completely change the landscape of Miami forever. It takes an aerial view like the one below to appreciate how massive this development is going to be.  It is so big that I wasn’t able to fit one or two of the lots to the north into the shot.

Brickell Citycentre construction aerial

 

BrickellHouse Construction Update

Brickellhouse construction update

It seems just like yesterday that BrickellHouse was nothing more than an empty lot and a pile of dirt.  Look at it now.  A lot of progress has been made over the past couple of months as the construction crew keeps chugging right along.  Completion of BrickellHouse is projected to take place in 2014.

BrickellHouse construction update

Furnished 1 Bedroom Condo at 500 Brickell with a Great Return!

500 Brickell unit 1608

Here is a unit that is perfect for  a value-conscious investor looking to purchase a condo in Brickell.  It is a beautifully remodeled 1 bedroom/1 bathroom condo at 500 Brickell with dark, wide-plank hardwood floors throughout, window treatments, light fixtures and a custom kitchen backsplash.  The 738 square foot unit has stainless steel appliances, a stacked washer/dryer, two closets and a south-facing balcony which spans the entire length of the condo.  The bathroom features a Jacuzzi tub and separate glass-enclosed shower.  The unit is being sold fully furnished and already has a tenant in place until September 24, 2013.  The tenant is paying $2,200 per month.  The condo association fees are $494 per month.  The current owner paid $2,607 in property taxes in 2012 which included a $25,000 Homestead exemption but it is important to note that the property taxes for a new buyer will be based on the newly assessed value determined by the city and whether the new buyer qualifies for any exemptions.  Best of all, the asking price is just $349,000.  If you find a better return on a condo in Brickell, then jump on it.

500 Brickell is walking distance to the shops, restaurants and bars at Mary Brickell Village and just a few short blocks from the upcoming $1.05B mixed-use development known as Brickell Citycentre.  The fabulous amenities at 500 Brickell  include: two swimming pools (one is a rooftop pool facing Biscayne Bay) two club rooms, a fitness center, 12-person theater, steam room, sauna, concierge and 24-hour valet parking.  The development also has ground-floor retail which includes a number of popular restaurants and bars.

If you or someone you know has an interest in purchasing this fully furnished condo at 500 Brickell, please give me a call at 786-247-6332 or email me at [email protected].  Feel free to contact me with any questions as well.

500 Brickell kitchen

500 Brickell 1608 bedroom

bedroom

bathroom with Jacuzzi tub and glass-enclosed shower

washer and dryer

500 Brickell

Best Luxury 3 Bedroom Condo Deal in Brickell

Bristol Tower 3302

“Luxury” is a word that is oftentimes used carelessly without any regard for its true, intended meaning.  When it comes to Brickell, only a handful of condo developments deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence as that descriptor.  In my opinion, Santa Maria is at the top of that list followed closely by Four Seasons Residences.  Despite being built in 1993, Bristol Tower is a second Ugo Colombo development that would make the short list of luxury residential buildings in Brickell.  It has stood the test of time and remains one of Brickell’s most distinguished condo developments.  Colombo’s work is synonymous with the word “quality”.  Along with Bristol Tower, he has developed such masterpieces as Santa Maria, Epic Residences and Hotel and Grovenor House.  All four buildings today look just as flawless as they did the day they were completed.

That being said, luxury three bedroom condos in Brickell are in very short supply.  Very few are available at the aforementioned Brickell condo developments and most are priced above $2M.  There is one listing, however, that is stunning and has stuck out in my mind as being an incredible deal.  It is a spacious 3 bedroom plus den, 4.5 bath residence which has 2,825 interior square feet, a large wrap-around balcony offering majestic bay and city views, a laundry room with Miele appliances, white Porcelanato floors in the living areas, wide-plank hardwood floors in the bedrooms and a white Italian kitchen with rare Quartzite green countertops as well as kitchen appliances by Miele and Sub-Zero.  The condo, unit 3302, is located on the 33rd floor, just two floors below the penthouse.

The best part of this elegantly appointed three bedroom condo at Bristol Tower is its price.  The sellers are asking just $1,749,000, or $619 per square foot.  For comparison sake, unit 2702 at Bristol Tower sold for $1.61M, or $570 per square foot, this past December.  That was a complete gut-job though and requires at least $100 per square foot to make it comparable.  Obviously, unit 3302 also has a better view being that it is located six floors higher  than unit 2702.  Additional evidence to support my assertion that unit 3302 is a great value can be found in a second recent sale at Bristol Tower which closed on October 29, 2012.  Unit 3005, a smaller three bedroom floor plan, sold for $606 per square foot.  It is important to note, however, that the 05 line at Bristol Tower faces southwest and has only a slight water view.  It is predominantly a city view with a sliver of water.  Also, all of the bathrooms in that unit are original whereas all of the bathrooms in unit 3302 have been upgraded.  After adjusting for water view and upgrades, it becomes obvious that unit 3302 is a great deal even at full asking price.  My prediction is that this one will be under contract by month’s end.

Bristol Tower 3302

Bristol Tower 3 bedroom

Bristol Tower kitchen

master bedroom

second bedroom

third bedroom

The Best 2 Bedroom Condo in Brickell for Under $800K

Villa Regina tower suite

Update: This condo received three offers this past week and is now pending sale.

I know value when I see it and I recently saw it when I had the opportunity to show a stunning tower suite condo at Villa Regina.  In my opinion, it represents the best 2 bedroom condo in Brickell that money can buy for under $800K.  The spacious floor plan has 1,895 interior square feet, 400 square feet of balcony and soaring 11-foot ceilings.  Every inch of this condo has been tastefully remodeled including both bathrooms and kitchen.  The split floor plan has 24×24 marble flooring in the living room, wide-plank wood flooring in the master bedroom and bath, a private balcony off the master bedroom, front-loading washer and dryer, induction cooktop, recessed lighting throughout the condo and a very large walk-in closet off the master bedroom.  It also offers an amazing view of Biscayne Bay.  The best time to tour this condo though is around 6:10pm as the sun is setting.  Pure beauty!  The asking price is $799,000, or $422 per square foot, without the furniture.  The owners, however, are open to selling the furniture separately.  I highly recommend that because the furniture compliments the unit incredibly well.

This unit is located on the second highest floor in the building.  At Villa Regina, the ordering of the floors is as follows, from the lowest to highest: Penthouse 1, Penthouse 2, Tower Suite 1, Tower Suite 2.  This 2 bedroom condo is located on the Tower Suite 1 level.

I want to note that this is not my listing and am in no way affiliated with the office which has it listed.  I also haven’t received any type of fee from the listing agent for promoting this condo.  I just truly feel that the property represents a great value and whoever buys it will love coming home to it each day.  That actually describes this property perfectly – it doesn’t feel like a condo; it feels like a home.  Obviously, my hope is to represent the person(s) who buy this residence so please contact me if you have any questions or if you would like to schedule an appointment to see this unit in person.  I also have a video which I can forward to you via email.  You can reach me on my cell at 786-247-6332 or email at [email protected].

living room

view of Biscayne Bay

living room

living room

dining room

kitchen

master bedroom

master bedroom

balcony off the master bedroom

master bathroom

master bathroom

second bedroom

second bathroom

myBrickell Tops-off According to Schedule

myBrickell top-off

Almost nothing in Miami goes according to schedule.  That is why I was pleasantly surprised to learn that myBrickell topped-off earlier this month.  Far before the first shovel even broke ground, Related Group projected that top-off would occur in February 2013.  Letters were mailed to contract holders last week on February 1st to announce the good news.  Closings had been projected to start in September of this year.  I guess we will see if Related Group is able to meet that deadline as well.

For those unfamiliar with the development, myBrickell is a 28-story, pre-construction condo development in Brickell with 192 total units.  It has been sold out for quite some time.