Inside Miami’s High-Security Billionaire Bunker – Indian Creek Island
Located on a barrier island on the outskirts of Biscayne Bay, sits a gorgeous Island shrouded in exclusivity and extreme wealth. Indian Creek Island is filed with billion dollar views, Brazilian teak docks, 100+ foot yachts, and extreme security.
This fortress of an island features 41 waterfront properties strategically arranged around an exclusive 18 hole golf-course stretched across 294 acres.
The average home value is $20 million with each lot featuring a minimum of 1.25 acres. In February 2010, one of the luxury estates sold for $50 million, breaking the record for the most expensive single family home sold in Miami.
Security is so tight that the entrance is heavily guarded with a 13 person private police force who patrol the island via boat, jeeps and jet skis 24 hours a day.
According to the 2019 census, the population for Indian Creek Island is 87 and in year 2000 it was considered the 8th highest income area in the United States.
History of Indian Creek Island
In the early 1900’s, Indian Creek Island was created as a result of excavation for drainage in Biscayne Bay. Although the golf course was created a few years later, the Village of Indian Creek Island officially established in 1939. The first homes built on the land were vacation homes for the Miami’s rich and famous. Although there are none of the original remaining homes, there are a handful that date back to the 1950’s.
In more recent years, instead of residents using their homes for vacationing, they are living in the community year-round, shifting the typical profile of the residents. The village are seeing more families with children and a recent council meeting approved sidewalks and streetlights for play.
Notables on the Island
With the exclusivity of Indian Creek Island, it brings on many notables who want the privacy and security this island has to offer. Past residents include Beyoncé and Jay-Z. Current notables include:
Norman Braman- car dealership billionaire
Purchased 1 Indian Creek Drive in 1991 for $3.9 million
Russian (anonymous) buyer
Purchased 3 Indian Creek Drive in 2012 for $47 million
Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner
Purchased a vacant lot for Julio Iglesias (Enrique Iglesias’ father) in 2020 for $30 million
Adriana Lima -Victoria Secret Supermodel
Purchased 22 Indian Creek Drive in 2009 for $9 million
Don Shula -Retired headcoach for the Miami Dolphins
Purchased 16 Indian Creek Drive with a price unknown due to divorce
Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen
Purchased a tear-down at 26 Indian Creek Drive in 2020 for $17 million.
There is only one property currently on the market on Indian Creek Island. The property located at 29 Indian Creek Drive is listed for rent at $100,000 monthly and features 4 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms with gorgeous southern exposure of Biscayne Bay. For more information on this property or about Indian Creek Island, please contact Lucas Lechuga via email at [email protected] or by phone at (786)247-6332.
Record-Breaking Cryptocurrency Sale for Arte Penthouse
Developers for Arte Surfside have accepted a record-breaking $22.5 million in cryptocurrency as payment for one of their full-floor penthouses. This deal is the largest cryptocurrency real estate transaction ever. This transaction was announced just a few weeks after developers for Arte Surfside began a partnership with SolidBlock, a securities trading platform.
This isn’t the only record that Arte Surfside recently set the stage for. Another full-floor penthouse sold for $33 million equaling $4,300 price per square foot. This is the highest paid price per square foot in Surfside.
The cryptocurrency-paid full-floor penthouse located on the entire 9th floor of the 12-story tower, features 5,067 square feet of living space. Offering 360 degree views of the coastline, Miami Skyline, and ocean from the 2,960 square feet wraparound terrace. The penthouse features 4 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, wine bar, and fully-finished walk in closets.
According to the co-developer, Giovanni Fasciano, “Arte has set the precedent for what these sales can look like, and how fast they can take place. We’re proud to have laid the groundwork for this new, burgeoning world.”
The buyer wasn’t revealed and the type of cryptocurrency wasn’t released for this transaction.
More about Arte Surfside
Arte Surfside Residence Amenities
Expansive terraces clad in travertine with ipe decking
Gracious kitchens featuring Poliform cabinetry, Italian marble countertops, and Gaggenau appliances
Sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean
Arte Surfside Amenities
A 75-foot indoor swimming pool
An outdoor swimming pool, sundeck, and poolside cabanas
Rooftop tennis court
State-of-the-art fitness center and yoga studio
Sauna and steam room
Tranquil meditation pond
Children’s playroom
Residents’ lounge with billiards and catering kitchen
Temperature-controlled parking spaces
Sexy Fish Coming Soon to Brickell
London hotspot Sexy Fish, will open its first United States restaurant in Brickell in September 2021. Located inside Brickell Flatiron at 1001 S. Miami Avenue, it will be the hottest restaurant this fall!
The Japanese-style restaurant was created by British hospitality entrepreneur Richard Caring, who is responsible for Annabel’s, Ivy Collection, Soho House Group. Chef Bjoern Weissgerber will be running the kitchen at Sexy Fish. He made his first debut at Zuma Miami in 2010 and received his first Michelin star when he was 27 years old.
The menu will feature a wide variety of makis, sahishi, sashimis, and tartares. The bar menu will feature drinks inspired by its London counterpart.
It is unclear what the aesthetic for the Miami location will be but its London location features a golden ceiling, bronze mermaid statue, and exotic fish with coral in large tanks.
isle of mull scallop, jalapeño sauce & pickled apple
wagyu gyoza, foie gras & black truffle
caramelized black cod, spicy miso
king crab & bone marrow, summer truffle & toast
beef tenderloin, 200gr, ginger & black pepper
Late Night Menu:
oyster gillardeau & smoked chili sauce
salt and pepper squid
wagyu tataki, Japanese mustard & summer truffle
prawn gyoza, soy & ginger dressing
seasonal vegetable tempura (9 kinds)
lobster, smoked Marie rose dip
green asparagus smoked creamy ponzu
Kimichi fried rice
lobster Sancho pepper & shiso butter
Japanese wagyu A5 sirloin 150g*
Japanese wagyu A5 fillet 150g* Sex
World’s Largest Cryptocurrency Conference is Coming to Miami – Bitcoin 2021
In the last few weeks, Miami has been swarmed with vacation goers and visitors from all over the world. But this week, Miami will be taken over by big tech with the world’s largest cryptocurrency conference, Bitcoin 2021. There is no doubt that Miami is the place to be!
Bitcoin 2021 will take place on June 4th and 5th at Wynwood’s Mana Convention Center. This will be considered one of the largest events to occur since the pandemic. This conference was originally set to take place in Los Angeles.
Notable speakers for this conference include Twitter CEO, Jack Dorsey, and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez as well as other leaders in cryptocurrency. The conference will explore technology advancement and give opportunities to actually utilize Bitcoin in a real setting.
According to the Chairman and Co-founder of the Wyndwood Business Improvement District Albert Garcia stated, “Wynwood’s residents and businesses have shown their resiliency in the face of this pandemic, and we are ready to safely welcome back visitors for the first major in-person event in the last 16 months. Conference attendees will enjoy the unique, open-air offerings of the Wynwood Arts District- from our colorful streets to our internationally recognized culinary and brewery scene.”
Bitcoin 2021’s local partners include BitBasel, that are creating a mural showing the evolution of currency. The mural will be displayed outside of the convention center. Other sponsors include Microsoft, Crypto.com, coinbase, and Bitfarms. According to their event announcement, they did not accept any sponsors that advocated for any other cryptocurrency other than Bitcoin.
Bitcoin has gained a lot of headway in Miami with buyers using Bitcoin with their real estate offers as well as a lot of nightclubs, retail, and airlines accepting the digital currency.
Legacy Hotel & Residences Sells out at 100% at Pre-Construction
Legacy Miami Worldcenter also known as Legacy Hotel & Residences is one of the newest pre-construction residential towers located in Park West Miami. This luxury tower will rise 668 feet tall with 50 stories. This tower has officially sold out before the groundbreaking. According to the South Florida Construction Journal, this is the first development in downtown Miami to sell out prior to construction.
Centrally located at 942 NE 1st Avenue in the heart of the Miami Worldcenter ‘mega-development.’ This mixed-use project will feature 287 residences, 262, luxury hotel rooms, restaurants, business center, medical office, retail, and a rooftop atrium with multiple amenities. It will also be considered the second tallest tower at Miami Worldcenter.
The residences will consist of studios, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom floor plans ranging from 368 to 964 interior square feet. Developed by Royal Palm Companies with Kobi Karp as the architect and ID & Design International designing the interior space. This tower will feature state-of-the-art living without any rental restrictions. This allows homeowners to rent their units on a short-term basis through AriBnB, VRBO, or through Legacy’s rental program. The residences at Legacy Hotel & Residences will come fully furnished.
The sold units include a total of 310 with a combined value of $160 million. The average prices ranged between $350,000 to $2+ million. There are 8 penthouses remaining are subject to use for the hotel portion of the project.
RPC is currently closing on their construction loan and expects to announce that milestone soon. Construction permits are pending and site pre-work is estimated to begin the end of May and/or beginning of June 2021. Legacy Hotel & Residences is expected to be completed in 2024.
Miami Real Estate Sales Surge in April 2021 – Best Sales Month in History
Home and Condo Sales surge in April making it the best sales month in Miami-Dade County real estate history. There have been a record number of companies relocating as well as individuals moving to South Florida creating such a high demand. Throw in the record-low mortgage rates and you definitely have your ‘surge.’
According to the Miami Multiple Listing Service (MLS), home sales have increased by 151.3% from 2020. Last year offered 1,576 homes sold to this year alone doubling to 3,960. Single-family home transactions increased by 83.1%. Condo sales are no different, with a substantial increase of 234.2% from 711 sales in 2020 to 2,376.
According to the MIAMI Realtors Chairman of the Board Jennifer Wollmann, “Miami recorded its best April sales month in history and the sales could have been even larger had there been more inventory.” “As is the situation in many major cities, inventory is low for single-family homes. The Miami condo market, however, is in a balanced market with 7.1 months of supply and buyers are taking advantage of the sector’s healthy inventory and today’s record low mortgage rates,” Wollmann also stated.
The luxury market has seen a substantial increase, with Miami luxury single-family home sales increasing 541.1% year over year with 359 total sales for April 2021.
Single-family home pricing between $400,000 to $600,000 increased by 118.9% to 521 transactions in April 2021. Cash sales for single-family homes have increased by 27.4%
The Miami Luxury condo market has also seen a spike in sales with an increase of 540.8% with 314 sales. Condo pricing sales between $400,000 and $600,000 had an increase of 371.6% to 349 sales than the years prior. Median prices for condos have increased 22.6% year over year as well. Condo cash sales accounted for 46.5% of transactions.
Distressed sales in my were at 1.5% which is low compared to prior years. Back in 2009, distressed sales accounted for 70% of all Miami sales.
With the high-demand, Miami real estate buyers have gotten creative and competitive with their offers. Multiple bids, buyers offering over asking price, and/or offering cryptocurrency in with their offer can really give buyers an edge in this market. Other factors have included mortgage contingencies, waving home inspections, and mortgage lenders waiving appraisals have also created a competitive edge.
Renderings and Site Plan Released for Downtown Miami’s Newest Tower The District
Renderings, floor plans, and site plans have recently been released for Miami newest 37-story condominium tower called The District. In April, The Related Group and Parcel C LLC’s proposed and received approval for the project.
This tower is in pre-construction and is proposed to include 347 residential condos with 2,297 square feet of retail space. This project will not have any parking but the developer is requesting an off-site parking waiver.
Rising 393 plus feet tall, The District will be located at 233 N Miami Avenue in downtown Miami. The floor plans will be fully finished and furnished ranging from 446 square feet to 874 square feet with studio to 2 bedroom options.
Includes integrated audio, video window treatment and lighting systems
All residences come equipped with a contemporary lighting package, including recessed lighting, dimmers, and lighting control
Fully built-out closets in all residences
Built in top-of-the-line in-unit washer and dryer
Flooring selections included with specifications recommended by Meshberg Design
Pre-wired for high-speed communications and data connection
Kitchens feature custom Italian cabinetry curated by Meshberg Design
Smeg appliance package includes integrated paneled microwave, dishwasher, built-in convection oven and refrigerator/ freezer
Building Amenities
Rooftop Amenity Deck : Expansive resort-style rooftop amenity deck with plunge swim spa, fire pit, summer kitchen, and gorgeous views of Downtown Miami and Biscayne Bay.
Basketball & Racquetball Courts :Full-height indoor basketball court and regulation-size racquetball court and Rock climbing wall.
Co-working Space :Co-working floor with multiple seating options, high-speed Internet, private meeting rooms, conference room and a full-service kitchen.
Fitness Center :State-of-the-art fully equipped fitness center including a private yoga/spinning room with virtual trainer and men’s/women’s sauna/ sauna and locker rooms.
Museum-quality Art :Double-height lobby featuring professionally curated museum-quality art.
Monitoring Services :24/7 security services and controlled property access.
The District App :Customized password-protected app for home/away smart-home management.
Parking :24/7 valet services and self parking.
Dining :On-site café servicing the residences and recreation areas.
Electric bikes with charging stations are available for residents on the go.
Housekeeping :On-demand full housekeeping services available at your convenience.
Climatized receiving and storage room
Resort Style pool deck with lounge and recreation room
Unit Distribution
Unit Type
Floors
Sq.Ft Range
Starting Prices
Studios
4th – 33rd
458 Sq.Ft – 469 Sq.Ft
From $352,900
1 BD / 1 BA
4th – 37th
558 Sq.Ft. – 615 Sq.Ft.
From $385,900
2 BD / 2 BA
4th – 37th
786 Sq.Ft. – 884 Sq.Ft.
From $573,900
Deposits
10% down with executed contract
10% 60 days after executed contract
10% at groundbreaking (scheduled end 2021)
10% at top off (schedule 3rd quarter of 2022)
60% at closing (scheduled 2nd quarter 2023)
Multiple waivers have been approved on April 9, 2021 but the construction permits have not been filed. Some of paperwork also includes transitioning some units in hotel room. The ground breaking is scheduled for the end of 2021 with estimated completion date of 2023.
Latin Singer and Songwriter-Marc Anthony Sells Coral Gables Mansion for $22.4 Million
Three-time Grammy Award Winner and Jennifer Lopez’s ex-husband, Marc Anthony has sold his Coral Gables, Florida mansion! The expansive 12 bedroom estate sold for $22.4 million on May 18, 2021. The ‘Barcadi-developed’ mansion is located at 300 Costanera Road in Cocoplum with 21,000 square feet of expansive living space.
The estate is set on a 1.3-acre corner parcel with 480 feet of water frontage. It was originally designed by Rafael Portuondo. The great, great grandaughter of Barcadi Founder, Hilda Maria Bacardi, sold the estate to Anthony in 2018. The original construction took eight years to complete and Bacardi oversaw the entire process.
The three-story mansion was originally listed in 2014 before construction was even completed. The original price was $18 million. The sellers increased the price to $27 million in 2016, which was the year the construction was completed.
The gorgeous estate features an expansive wine cellar, swimming pool, staff quarters, 3 kitchens, and direct access to Biscayne Bay. The new buyer has not yet been listed in the tax records.
Marc Anthony also referred to as Marco Antonio Muñiz, is a singer, songwriter, actor-producer, and philanthropist. He is also the top-selling salsa artist of all time and holds a Guinness World Record for best-selling tropical/salsa artist. He has also received 6 Latin Grammy Awards and is also the recipient of the 2009 Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Lifetime Achievement Award.
J. Michael Arrington-Founder of TechCrunch Buys Waterfront Home for $16 Million
In April 2021, J. Michael Arrington, Founder of TechCrunch, stated that “there is no better place to be than Miami.” So it is of no surprise that Arrington just closed on a waterfront property in Miami last Friday.
With a cool price of $16 million, this gorgeous home is located in Miami’s gated community of Old Cutler Bay has all the amenities that one could need. The gorgeous six bedroom home is perfectly sited on half of an acre with 140 feet of waterfront. This property is not limited in amenities! From the pool, wooden deck, coral rock fire pit, to the summer kitchen, it is absolutely stunning.
The home was built in 2015 and designed by Florida architect, Cesar Molina. The 8,300 square foot home is complete with 6 bedrooms, 7.5 bathrooms, wine cellar, home theater, gym, and custom kitchen.
According to the Miami MLS, this property was originally listed in April with a price of $16.5 million. According to tax records, the sellers purchased the property for $10.4 million in November of 2018. According to the listing agent, properties in this neighborhood typically sell for over $10 million but this has been the highest sale price ever for this neighborhood.
J. Michael Arrington is the founder of the popular tech review website, TechCrunch and a cryptocurrency hedge fund, Arrington XRP Capital. Techcrunch which operates Crunchbase, was founded in 2005 starting off as an online encyclopedia with information on key people, funding rounds, and startups’ information. TechCrunch was later acquired in 2010 by AOL for $25 million.
