Casa Bella by B&B Italia Reaches 60% Sold

Casa Bella Miami by B & B Italia
Casa Bella by B&B Italia

Casa Bella by B&B Italia located in Downtown Miami on Biscayne Boulevard has just reached 60% sold within the first 5 months of launching sales.

Casa Bella will feature 3 towers and 2 will rise 57 stories while 1 will rise 50. The first tower will feature 300 luxury units although 1,430 residential units have been approved for the site. The towers will have 1,629 parking spaces and will be connected by a podium.

The newest tower will feature 1 to 5-bedroom floor plans with only 6 units per floor. Interiors will be designed by Pierro Lissoni with landscape architecture by Enzo Ena. The double-height lobby will also be designed by Lissoni and will feature a mixture of sophistication and modern designs with a permanent collection of museum-quality art located throughout. 

The location of this tower places residences near the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts and the Miami International University of Art and Design. The Omni Station Bus Loop is also 1 block away.

With the reopening of borders and the lifting of the pandemic restrictions as of November 8, 2021, we will likely see an increase in international buyers, especially for the new construction towers. Currently, international buyers are representing around 50% of new construction developments while earlier in the year, they were only representing 20%.

Construction for the development is estimated for winter 2022 with an anticipated completion date of 2025. If you or someone you know have an interest in purchasing at Casa Bella, please contact Lucas Lechuga via email at [email protected] or by phone at (786)247-6332.

Miami Condo Investments Celebrates its 15 Year Anniversary

Miami Condo Investments 15th Anniversary
Miami Condo Investments 15th Anniversary

On May 17th 2007, Lucas Lechuga launched one of the most successful condo websites in Miami. With just a desire to bring better user experience, real estate listings, and news, Lechuga has achieved just that and so much more!

Over the years, he was able to develop a way for users to search for their potential properties through alternative methods instead of the traditional zip code searches and he also found a way for consumers to access market statistics without ever having to make a call or enduring tedious research methods.

In 2017, for the 10 year anniversary of the website, the average users ranged from 40,000 unique visitors per month globally from 200 countries. Still pacing as the #1 Miami Condos Website, 2022 brings over 100,000 unique visitors per month globally just through Google.

Not only does Miami Condo Investments offer a unique real estate listing experience, but you can also enjoy new construction tower updates, real-time inventory data, condo ranking system, up-to-date condo tower photos, rentals, and a real estate blog posted daily.

We are also in the process of some new landing pages aiming to be even more user and mobile friendly, searching with specific criteria, and a new mobile app. We will update everyone once we get closer to a launch date.

As far as the team…During our last anniversary, our team included six agents and now our team is growing along with the website. We have reached 9 agents that assist buyers and sellers with all of their real estate needs. We also have 3 office admins, including assistants and marketing pros.

We are so grateful for all of the accomplishments that this website and our team has completed over the past 15 years and we can’t forget about our readers and clients. Thank you so much for allowing Miami Condo Investments to be your most knowledgable partner while navigating the real estate market. We look forward to serving you and Miami the next 15 years!

New Miami-Dade County Legislation will Require Landlords to Provide a 60 Day Notice of Rent Hikes

Miami-Dade County Legislation
Miami-Dade County Legislation

Residential landlords in Miami-Dade County are now required to provide renters at least 60 days’ notice of rent increases of 5% or more, as renting in South Florida grow increasingly expensive.

The legislation was proposed by Commissioner Eileen Higgins and unanimously approved during the commission meeting on March 15th.

Throughout the country, renters are facing a massive rent spike by at least 50% and according to Miami-Dade County, they hope this legislation will help curb those numbers and make Miami more attractive to tenants.

This new legislation would apply to renters nearing the end of their contracts as well as those on month-to-month leases who are facing the 5% rent increase. Also in the new legislation is the notice on eviction time going from 30 to 60 days, including month-to-month leases that came from a 12-month lease.

According to a commissioner, landlords could bypass the new legislation by offering weekly leases. This new legislation can only be enforced in court.

Higgins stated during the meeting, “Thank you all for your understanding about how fair notice is the right thing to do, but not all landlords are doing the right thing. So, this requires them, if their mothers didn’t teach them to do the right thing.”

There are also 2 additional bills for rent control expected to be voted on by this summer, Tenant Bill of Rights and Rent Control. The tenant bill of rights would allow tenants to withhold rent for certain maintenance issues that the landlords haven’t repaired. Landlords would also be required to provide renters with information about their rental rights for state and county laws.

If approved the Rent Control legislation would put a cap on rent increases for 12 months. There would be many hurdles with this legislation that involved multiple votes by commissioners, the mayor, and Miami-Dade citizens.

St. Regis Residences Miami Reveals New Renderings

St Regis Residences Miami
St Regis Residences Miami

Sales have officially launched on the East tower of St. Regis Residences Miami. Along with the launch of St. Regis, comes new interior renderings and they are stunning! The Related Group and Integra Investments are bringing an architectural phenomenon to Miami.

St Regis Residences Miami Lobby

Located at 1809 Brickell Avenue in Brickell, these ultra-luxury twin towers will rise 47 and 48 stories tall. The East tower will feature 149 residences with interiors designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects and the Rockwell Group. With units ranging from 2,300 square feet two bedrooms to 8,900 square feet duplexes. Pricing for units will begin at $2,800,000.

With the release of the new renderings, Jon Paul Perez, President of The Related Group states, “Much like the original St. Regis hotel brought about a new era of glamour and classic sophistication for the Empire State, The St. Regis Residences, Miami, are ushering in a new era for Brickell and all of Miami. Our entire development team is honored to have the opportunity to bring such a storied brand to this city, especially when energy and optimism around our region’s potential is at an all-time high.” 

St Regis Residences Miami Master Bed
St Regis Residences Miami Kitchen
St Regis Residences Miami Master Bath

Residence Features

  • Private elevator and entry foyer to each residence
  • Double door entry in select residences
  • 11-foot ceilings with integrated linear diffusers in living areas
  • Custom European marble flooring throughout
  • European solid wood doorways
  • All homes feature a powder room and laundry room
  • Integrated smart home technology
  • Gourmet kitchen with custom Italian cabinetry designed by Rockwell Group
  • Marble countertops and backsplashes
  • Fully-integrated Sub-Zero and Wolf appliance packages, including:
    • Paneled refrigerator
    • Paneled freezer
    • Full-height wine refrigerator
    • Convection oven
    • Steam oven
    • Microwave
    • Dornbracht fixtures
  • Oversized walk-in closets
  • Midnight bar and butler’s pantry
  • Split marble top vanities with Dornbracht fixtures
  • Oversized marble showers and free-standing bathtubs
  • Private water closets with Toto toilets

For December 2021, Related announced $63 million in sales for the St. Regis Residences Miami. The groundbreaking is expected to occur in the 3rd quarter of 2022.

St Regis Residences Miami Bar
St Regis Residences Miami Indoor Pool

Sixty Sixty Condo Hotel Sold to Miami-Based Investment Group for $24 Million

Sixty Sixty Condo Hotel Sells for $24 Million
Sixty Sixty Condo Hotel Sells for $24 Million

In a previous foreclosure fight among owners and developers, the Sixty Sixty condo-hotel in Miami Beach has been sold for $23.5 million to a buyer who intends to repair as well as add to the waterfront development.

The 82-key condo-hotel is located at 6060 Indian Creek Drive along an inlet off of Biscayne Bay but also features views of the ocean. Integra Investments along with Sagar Desai’s Activate Hospitality sold the property to Bloom Hotels, under the umbrella of Bloom Ventures. The founder and CEO of Bloom is David Harari, who is located in Miami.

The CEO of Integra Victor Ballestas stated, “ripe market conditions created an opportunistic circumstance for the sale,” after stating he had no intention of selling the development.

The Schecher Group originally sold a majority of the units in 2020 to Integra and Activate for $15 million, then later bought the rest of the units in 2021. The company was then accused of a takeover although Schecher stated that the unit owners owed $9.4 million in homeowner association fees.

Bloom Hotels utilized Sheridan Capital to finance the property for a loan of $17.3 million. There have been talks of Bloom increasing the room count and bringing Canopy or Tapestry (Hilton brands) to assists with operations. Some plans include modernizing the property as well as adding a marina to the development.

Integra is also one of the co-developers for Brickell’s newest two-tower project, St. Regis Residences.

M Tower Redesign Renderings Revealed

New Renderings for M Tower in Downtown Miami
New Renderings for M Tower in Downtown Miami

Located at 56 SW 1st St and 65 SW 2nd Street, M Tower will rise 49 stories in Downtown Miami. Recently, the developers released renderings for a redesign of the tower. M-Tower will be developed by the Miami Parking Authority and a private developer in a partnership.

The old plans showcased the property reaching 53 stories, 440 condo units, and 818 parking spaces. The tower was proposed to encompass 622,783 square feet total with 25,732 square feet of office space and 1,089 square feet of retail. These previous designs were created by Zyscovich Architects.

The new designs showcase 624 condo units, ground floor retail, offices for Miami Parking Authority, and 717 parking spaces. The architect for the redesign is NBWW Architects located in Coral Gables.

In the previous design, the older garage on the property was to be refinished and incorporate some of the new design but the current plans show an entire demolition of the site with plans to rebuild.

The property that the proposed M Tower sits on sold earlier this year to an affiliate of the Lion Group NYC for $10 million.

If the new redesign is approved by all parties, then construction will begin in 2022.

New M Tower in Miami
M Tower in Downtown Miami

$30M+ Sold at One Thousand Museum During Art Basel Week; $90M Inventory Loan Paid Off

One Thousand Museum
One Thousand Museum

In the wake of Art Basel Miami Beach, One Thousand Museum is reporting a major increase in sales as well as paying off its inventory loan.

With buyers from all over the globe and the attendance for Art Basel reaching over 60,000, it is of no surprise that sales for One Thousand Museum would increase.

According to the co-developer of One Thousand Museum, Kevin Venger, “As a testament of the recent success leading to the loan payoff, during Art Week alone, our sales team inked two large sales totaling more than $30 million.”

Another major milestone was the $90 million inventory loan that was secured in March 2021. According to the developers, that loan is officially paid off. Louis Birdman, another co-developer states, “Satisfying our $90M loan in eight months comes during a buying frenzy and Miami’s high season, which we expect to take One Thousand Museum to sellout quickly.”

The late Pritzker-winning architect Zaha Hadid built One Thousand Museum, which was developed by Louis Birdman, Gregg Covin, Kevin Venger, and Regalia Group.

One Thousand Museum is South Florida’s first residential complex with its own rooftop helipad, allowing residents to quickly travel to adjacent islands, private and commercial airports, and private boats.

One Thousand Museum Amenities

  • A spacious fitness center with state-of-the-art strength and cardio training equipment
  • Spa with private treatment rooms, steam and sauna rooms, plunge pools, and relaxation lounge
  • Multimedia theater for private movie screenings, lectures, and presentations
  • Sun & Swim Terrace with pools, lounge chairs, cabanas, and poolside towel service
  • Aquatic Center with indoor, infinity-edge pool
  • Private dining room
  • Triple-height event space overlooking Biscayne Bay
  • Private rooftop helipad
  • Specialized security and valet personnel
  • Full-service concierge
  • Bank-quality vault with individual safe deposit box for every residence

One Thousand Museum Residence Features

  • Custom Italian cabinetry by Poliform
  • Fine quartz countertops by Silestone
  • Induction cooktop, oven, steam oven, microwave, dishwasher, and integrated coffee maker by Gaggenau
  • Refrigerator by Sub-Zero
  • Faucets and fixtures by Dornbracht, Duravit, and MTI
  • Interior doors by Lualdi Porte with door handles designed by Zaha Hadid
  • Custom-designed, Italian-made walk-in closets
  • Extensive state-of-the-art home automation by Crestron, allowing residents to control a range of in-residence applications including lighting, heating, air conditioning, audio, video, window treatments, and security
  • Oversized terraces
  • East-to-west flow-through floor plans

These one-of-a-kind and magnificent condos range in price from $4.95 million to $20 million, and due to the demand of the luxury condo market, availability is restricted.

There are currently 3 furnished developer models left. If you or someone you know have an interest in purchasing one of the One Thousand Museum Residences, please contact Lucas Lechuga via email at [email protected] or by phone at 786-247-6332.

You Could Have Your Own Regalia Penthouse for $25.5 Million

Regalia Penthouse in Sunny Isles Beach
Photo Credit: Jeffrey Miller

Located at the Regalia, this 15,000 square foot penthouse is an absolute dream and it could be yours for $25.5 million. In a time where luxury penthouses have been selling quickly and real estate records keep breaking, at this price point plus all of the features and amenities, this penthouse unit is a steal.

The location of the Regalia is unmatched, placing it centrally in Sunny Isles Beach with the ocean just steps from the luxury tower. Located at 19575 Collins Avenue #PH43, this unit has a bird’s eye view of the Atlantic Ocean and the Miami skyline. Featuring 6 bedrooms, 7 full baths, and 2 half baths, this full-floor unit is placed at the very top of the tower spreading over 3 floors.

Upon entering the luxury unit, you are greeted with soaring 20-foot ceilings, a custom rainfall chandelier, and floor-to-ceiling windows with endless ocean views. The Blanco Sevilla stone floors lead to the custom Poliform kitchen with Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances. The kitchen also features smoky quartz counters with Kreon lighting.

The floating staircase takes you to a separate floor where the expansive master is anything but ordinary. This suite is perfectly finished with remarkable ocean views from every corner and the grand bathroom with its Calacatta marble expanding over the floors and walls. According to the listing, there is over $1 million in imported Calacatta.

As you ascend from the pneumatic glass elevator to the private rooftop, an outdoor pool, summer kitchen, and custom bar awaits. The entire unit features Blanco Sevilla Stone and Nikzad flooring throughout, Kreon lighting, Crestron Smart home automation, and Lualdi Italian Interior doors.

This remarkable tower was designed by Bernardo Fort-Brescia of Arquitectonica and decorated by Charles Allem of CAD International, a world-renowned South African designer. The Regalia is the epitome of perfection and luxury. What’s so unique about this tower is the 39 full-floor residences. Each residence expands 5,515 square feet of living space with private elevator entries and 2,100 square feet of wrap-around terraces.

Regalia Amenities

  • Smart Building
  • Yoga/Meditation Room
  • Oceanfront Jacuzzi
  • 5-Star International Concierge Services
  • Cold Plunge Pool
  • Private Poolside Cabanas
  • Finishes with the Finest Stone, Wood, Glass, and Wall Coverings
  • State-of-the-Art Fitness Center
  • Professionally Trained Spa Manager
  • Private Poolside Cabanas
  • Fountains, Privacy Landscaping, and 24-Hour Valet

This incredible listing is currently up for auction and will be sold to the highest bidder on December 16, 2021. If you or someone you know have an interest in purchasing at the Regalia, please contact Lucas Lechuga via email at [email protected] or by phone at (786)247-6332.

The Regalia Penthouse
Photo Credit: Jeffrey Miller
Regalia Penthouse Custom Kitchen Miami
Photo Credit: Jeffrey Miller
Regalia Penthouse Movie Theater
Photo Credit: Jeffrey Miller
Regalia Penthouse Master Bedroom
Photo Credit: Jeffrey Miller
Regalia Penthouse Master Bath
Photo Credit: Jeffrey Miller
Regalia Penthouse Outdoor Terrace with Pool
Photo Credit: Jeffrey Miller

Russian Buyer Purchases MarinaBlue Condo with Cryptocurrency

MarinaBlue View of Biscayne Bay
MarinaBlue View of Biscayne Bay

Cryptocurrency has made headway this past year within the real estate market. To compete with multiple offers or to make offers more appealing, buyers have been utilizing different types of the digital currency.

888 Biscayne Blvd, Miami

The digital asset is not only being accepted for real estate transactions but for the purchase of goods and services as well. Miami nightclubs, retail shops, and airlines are starting to accept this form of payment. Other large chain retail stores including Overstock.com, Microsoft, and Home Depot are also on the crypto train.

Within the real estate market, many developers are beginning to accept crypto on their new construction towers. PMG was one of the first developers to begin accepting crypto on their new construction tower, E11EVEN Hotel & Residences. A penthouse at Arte Surfside was also recognized for being one of the largest cryptocurrency transactions ever.

Lucas Lechuga recently closed on a MarinaBlue unit #4803 to a buyer from Russia for $465,000. The buyer purchased the unit using cryptocurrency. The unit itself features 1 bedroom + den, 1.5 bathrooms that offered views of the ocean, downtown Miami, and Biscayne Bay. This unit boasts 10-foot ceilings with floor-to-ceiling glass windows and marble flooring throughout.

This unit is considered the second-highest price sale for a 1 bedroom ever at MarinaBlue.

Marina Blue Condo Bedroom

Marina Blue Amenities

  • Sunset and Sunrise Infinity Edge Pools
  • Hot Tub and Plunge Pool
  • Fitness Center
  • Yoga/Aerobics Room
  • 24-hour Concierge
  • 24-hour Security
  • 24-hour Valet Parking
  • Business Center and Conference Room
  • BBQ Grills and Outdoor Dining Area
  • Sand Volleyball Court
  • 5-hole Putting Green
  • Party Room
  • Semi-private High-speed Elevators
  • Private Storage Lockers
  • Wi-Fi Internet in Lobby and Amenity Deck

Marina Blue Residence Features

  • Direct Water Views From Each Unit
  • Floor-to-ceiling Impact-resistant Sliding Glass Doors and Windows
  • 9-foot Ceilings in Most Condos; 10-foot Ceilings starting on the 44th Floor; Lofts with 18-foot Ceilings
  • Penthouse Units with 20-foot ceilings
  • Full-size Stackable Washer and Dryers by Frigidaire
  • European-style Cabinetry and Stainless Steel Sink in Kitchen
  • Stainless Steel Refrigerator/Freezer, Microwave and Oven/Stove by Whirlpool
  • Master Bath Features Marble Floors and Double Vanity
  • Spacious Walk-in Closets

If you or someone you know have an interest in purchasing one of the units at MarinaBlue, or any information on the cryptocurrency process, please contact Lucas Lechuga via email at [email protected] or by phone at (786)247-6332.

Marina Blue Unit 4803
Views from MarinaBlue

Legacy Hotel & Residences Breaks Ground

Groundbreaking for Legacy Hotel and Residences Miami
Groundbreaking for Legacy Hotel and Residences Miami
Photo Credit: owpbrokers

The highly anticipated Legacy Hotel & Residences finally broke ground today at the development site located at 942 NE 1st Avenue in the heart of downtown Miami. In attendance was Ken Russell (City of Miami Commissioner), representatives of Royal Palm Companies, and Peggy Olin (Owp Property representative).

Also known as Legacy Miami Worldcenter, Legacy is one of the newest pre-construction residential towers located in Park West Miami. The luxury tower will rise 50 stories at 668 feet tall making it the second tallest tower at Miami Worldcener. This tower sold out of all the units prior to the groundbreaking and is the first development to sell out prior to construction.

This mixed-use development will feature 312 residential units, 262 luxury hotel rooms, a business center, medical office, retail space, and rooftop atrium with all of the luxury amenities a 5-star hotel could offer.

Legacy Hotel and Residences Miami

The residences will include studio to 2 bedroom floor plans with 368 to 964 square feet options. The units will be fully finished and furnished. One of the unique things about Legacy is that residents will be able to rent their units without any restrictions. This includes utilizing a short-term rental company, whether its the Legacy’s rental program, Airbnb, or VRBO.

CONSTRUCTION INFORMATION

  • DEVELOPER: ROYAL PALM COMPANIES
  • ARCHITECT: KOBI KARP
  • DESIGNER: ID & DESIGN INTERNATIONAL

HOTEL AREAS (GROUND LEVEL AND PEDESTAL)

  • SPECTACULAR 40 FT. HIGH LOBBY WITH GLASS ELEVATORS
  • SIGNATURE INTERNATIONAL RESTAURANT
  • FULL-SERVICE CAFÉ WITH LOCALLY SOURCED BAKED GOODS
  • FIRST OF ITS KIND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS LOUNGE
  • GRAND BALLROOM AND EVENT SPACES
  • SHUL WITH KOSHER KITCHEN

ONE ACRE POOL DECK (9TH FLOOR)

  • LARGEST DOWNTOWN HOTEL POOL DECK
  • MULTIPLE WATER FEATURES AND FULL-SERVICE POOL
  • SIGNATURE RESTAURANT SERVING ALL MEALS
  • BAR AND LOUNGE
  • LUXURIOUS DECK FURNITURE
  • LUSH LANDSCAPING
  • PLUSH CABANAS
Legacy Hotel & Residences Rooftop Atrium

ROOFTOP ATRIUM AND EVENT SPACE

  • DECADENT LOUNGE WITH SEATING AMIDST GARDENS
  • FULL-SERVICE BAR FOR INDOOR AND OUTDOOR SEATING
  • CANTILEVERED, INFINITY-EDGE, SINGAPORE INSPIRED POOL
    500-FEET IN THE AIR
  • ROOFTOP SUNDECK WITH ENDLESS DOWNTOWN VIEWS
  • PLENTIFUL EVENT SPACE

CENTER FOR HEALTH & PERFORMANCE

  • 50,000 SQ FT MEDICAL CLINIC WITH SUITES
    FOR HEALTH AND PERFORMANCE
  • DIAGNOSTICS AND TECHNOLOGY
  • VIP HEALTH CLUB WITH OPERATING ROOMS
    AND PRIVATE VIP ENTRANCE
  • ADVANCED PERFORMANCE TESTING CENTER

WELLNESS (SOME COSTS MAY APPLY BASED ON USAGE AND PROCEDURES)

  • MEDICAL FITNESS WITH PRESCRIPTION FOR HEALTH
  • VITALITY SPA
  • FITNESS STUDIOS
  • SPORTS MEDICINE/PHYSICAL THERAPY
  • EUROPEAN STYLED STEAM ROOM
  • RELAXING SAUNA
  • ALTITUDE TRAINING ROOM
  • CRYOTHERAPY CHAMBERS
  • JUICE/BEVERAGE BAR
  • IV NUTRITION THERAPY

All but 2 of the 312 units have sold for a combined value of $212 million. Average prices range between $350,000 to $2 million. Royal Palms closed on the construction loan in May 2021. Legacy Hotel & Residences is expected to be completed by 2024.