BrickellHouse Parking Trouble: How Have Sales Values Been Affected?
Back in early November, residents at Brickell House condominium in the Brickell Financial District were shocked to receive news from the condo association that their “state-of-the-art” robotic parking system would cease to function due to a disagreement between the builder and the operator of the system.
While the news of the service interruption was a surprise, the issue between the building and Boomerang Systems was not. The parking system that was installed in 2014 never worked properly, and the morning ritual of retrieving cars could sometimes take upwards of an hour per resident. The building had done their best to appease the residents, offering free Starbucks coffee during the lengthy wait times, reimbursement for Uber trips and reimbursement for alternative parking arrangements, but the elephant in the room remained. The building had a major problem.
After scrambling to find alternative arrangements for the residents of the 374 apartments, the parking company continued to demand $50,000 per month as a fee for operating the system and $100,000 in back payments. The building resisted the payment as the delays continued to grow as the building continued to fill with residents. According to the South Florida Business Journal, US Bankruptcy Judge Mary F. Walrath settled the dispute on December 21 by cancelling the contracts for purchase, installation and maintenance of the parking system but allowing the building to hire another company to manage the equipment & software that is already on site. In the meantime, the temporary parking solution remains in place.
While the building is busy looking for a new parking service company, many are wondering what will happen to the sales and rental values of the building?
Now that the market has had a few months to reflect the aftermath of the dramatic news, we are happy to see that not much has changed in the sales values. According to our BrickellHouse Statistics page, the sales figures have steadily risen since the building opened in late 2014.
Over the previous 3 months, the average price per foot has been $641/foot for sold condos, up from $611/foot over the last 6 months and $595/foot at building opening. There are also 4 apartments that have executed contracts that are still in process. The rental market has also steadily grown with 18 new leases in place over the last 3 months, 56 leases in the last 6 months and 143 over the last year.
While we are sure the parking situation is inconvenient for all involved, it is a relief to see that the building is holding its value as planned. Once the parking debacle is resolved, we are confident that the building will be revealed as an even better investment for the long-run.
Related Group Construction Update
The Related Group is looking to start 2016 ahead of schedule. This morning Carlos Rosso, President of Related’s condo division, shared these construction photos of SLS Lux, Brickell Heights, SLS Brickell and the Paraiso mega-development.
Above, you can see Brickell Heights and SLS Lux. Brickell Heights is the two towers under construction in the center of the photo. The tower to the right is Brickell Heights tower 1. This phase is sold out except for a few penthouse opportunities, Brickell Heights 02 is 85% sold out with select residences and penthouses remaining for purchase. This project is scheduled for completion in late 2016.
SLS Lux is the shorter tower to the right of Brickell Heights. The construction began more recently than Brickell Heights and it is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2017. This project is nearly sold out as well with roughly 20 residences remaining and penthouses. Upon completion, SLS Lux will be 57 floors and Brickell Heights will have 49 floors in each tower.
Above, you can see SLS Brickell. This one is topped off just in time for the new year and has been sold out for some time with the exception of a couple of penthouse opportunities. The construction schedule shows SLS Brickell being completed in the spring of 2016.
Below is a great angle to see the impressive size of the Paraiso Bay mega development in Edgewater. This project features 4 towers on 4.6 acres that will begin to be delivered in late 2016. The four towers are Paraiso Bay, Gran Paraiso, One Paraiso and Paraiso Bayviews.
Bravo to Related for pushing the projects & heading toward the finish ahead of schedule! We can’t wait to see the neighborhoods continue to grow. We are happy to help should you be interested in any of the remaining opportunities in the projects.
Developers Offering Year-End Incentives to Close Out Projects
In an effort to hold the attention of buyers and sell as many apartments as possible before the end of 2015, developers are coming out with attractive incentives packages to help buyers decide to act now and close out their projects. Here are some of our favorite incentives from buildings that are currently under construction and selling pre-construction residences:
Brickell Heights – Related has lowered the down payment requirement to 30% from the original 50%. Prices of remaining inventory start in the $400,000’s.
SLS Lux – All of the condo/hotel apartments are currently under contract, but the developer is offering upgraded kitchens on the remaining condo residences and 30% down payment. The penthouse collection has recently been released and sales are almost finished. Prices start in the $600,000’s for the remaining units.
Paraiso Bayviews – All four towers of the Paraiso development are currently under construction and Paraiso Bayviews is 95% sold. For select apartments, the developer is offering a finishes package with porcelain flooring throughout. The prices currently start in the mid $500,000’s up to the high $600,000’s and penthouses are priced between $639,900 to $1.75MM. The developer has not officially offered deposit flexibility but has indicated that it is possible on a case-by-case basis.
Hyde Midtown – The construction of Hyde Midtown has only just started in recent months, but close out is fast approaching. Prices on remaining inventory start in the $400,000’s and the sales team has offered some flexibility on the 30% down payment on a case by case basis.
We were very happy to see these flexible down payment options, as it will make new condo purchases more accessible to those who hope to live in the apartments. The incentives also help to allow for the possibility of financing the condo purchases, which many people have inquired about yet been unable to easily attain until now.
Let us know if you or someone you know is interested in more information on these or other developments. We will have team members in Miami during all of the holidays and until the end of the year to help visitors by appointment.
Week in Review: Brickell City Centre Reveals Climate Ribbon & Other News…
Week of December 6-12, 2015.
We survived the 13th Art Basel in Miami Beach, drawing record breaking crowds as well as record breaking rain. Despite weather and crowd-related delays and a bit of drama, the yearly art fair drew an estimated 77,000 visitors from around the world and the festival was a success. [NY Times]
Brickell City Centre put a pause on construction to host a beautiful party unveiling their $30 million climate ribbon. The ribbon is designed to filter the tradewinds from the Biscayne Bay into the development, cooling the shoppers and redirecting rain water to the landscaping. [Curbed Miami]
PMG gained approval to build a 1,049 ft tower at 300 Biscayne Boulevard. This would make the new tower even taller than the originally planned 93 story Empire World Towers that was previously proposed for the site. [The Next Miami] The original plan for Empire World Towers was abandoned after the original developers were sent to prison for tax evasion and fraud. [South Florida Business Journal]
Miami Riverfront land is one step closer to being a more usable & pedestrian friendly shopping/culinary destination. Riverside Wharf would have a fish market, restaurants and a public riverwalk. [Miami Today]
Speaking of the Miami River area, David Beckham finally found a spot for his new soccer stadium. The new & approved location is in Overtown, just bordering the Miami River District and close to highways, public transportation and Downtown Miami. The area has often been overlooked until now, we are excited to see the changes that the stadium will bring! [ESPN]
Moishe Mana has been busy in Downtown Miami. He closed on two more sites this week and now owns over 800,000 square feet of space in the area. We can’t wait to see his plans once he reaches his goal of acquisition in the area near Flagler Street in the historic area of Downtown Miami. [The Next Miami]
Related Group Closes Out IconBay; Inventory Concerns Loom For Investors
As reported a few days ago by South Florida Business Journal, Related Group has closed on all 300 units at IconBay. Without question, that is a tremendous milestone for what is considered the first luxury condo development to be completed in Edgewater during Miami’s most recent construction boom. However, not all is sunshine and rainbows for IconBay and, in particular, for its investors; inventory continues to mount and owners are finding it increasingly difficult to sell and/or rent their units.
Let’s first examine the rentals at IconBay. Currently, a total of 68 units are on the market for rent. That represents a whopping 23 percent of the development’s 300 total units. More concerning, however, is the lack of rental activity. According to the MLS, since June, when initial units first began to hit the market for rent, there have been 15 closed rentals, an average of just 3 units rented per month. As a result, and as one might expect, asking prices have fallen along the way; in some cases, the drop has been significant. For example, in late June, when the first 1 bedroom + den unit at IconBay hit the market, it was priced at $4,000 per month. That unit – unit 2102 – ultimately ended up renting for $2,700 per month. Since then, a unit located in the exact same line but four floors higher and with a similar build-out – unit 2502 – rented for $2,500 per month. And prices are still trying to find a bottom. Unit 2802 – another unit of the exact same floor plan that is currently listed for rent – is asking $2,500 per month. And the 2 bedroom + den units at IconBay haven’t fared much better. They have rented for as low as $3,000 per month (in fact, three separate 2 bedroom + den units have rented at that price). In other words, 2 bedroom units are renting for 25 percent less than where the initial 1 bedroom unit was priced.
In regards to resales at IconBay, currently, there are 72 units listed for sale on the MLS. That represents a staggering 24 percent of IconBay’s total number of units. Post-closing, just 4 units have exchanged hands:
- Unit 2401 – a 2 bed + den/2 bath condo with 1,435 interior square feet sold “decorator-ready” for $810,000 on October 1st ($564 per square foot)
- Unit 2601 – a 2 bed + den/2 bath condo with 1,435 interior square feet sold “decorator-ready” for $800,000 on October 16th ($557 per square foot)
- Unit 2901 – a 2 bed + den/2 bath condo with 1,435 interior square feet sold “decorator-ready” for $810,000 on October 27th ($564 per square foot
- Unit 307 – a 2 bed + den/2 bath condo with 1,003 interior square feet sold “decorator-ready” for $540,000 on October 28th ($538 per square foot)
According the MLS, no units have closed this month. Additionally, not one single unit at IconBay is under contract (pending sale). As with rentals, it appears that prices are still trying to find a bottom. For example, unit 3101, which is located on a higher floor than any of the aforementioned 01 units that recently exchanged hands, is currently listed for sale with an asking price of $780,000 ($544 per square foot). Unit 3101 has been listed at that price for 79 days, yet no takers. (I am scratching my head trying to figure out why on earth a buyer would choose to pay $20,000 to $30,000 more for a unit located two to seven floors lower.)
So what gives? Why does there appear to be a lack of interest for units at IconBay? Well, the complaint that I keep hearing, from clients and real estate agents alike, is the size of their floor plans, or, rather, their lack of size. The corner units aren’t so bad, but the interior units are unexpectedly small, especially the non-corner 2 bedroom + den units (lines 03, 04, 05, and 07) which range in size from 1,173 to 1,208 interior square feet. Another common complaint I hear is the neighborhood. People argue that it’s just not there yet, at least not at current asking prices. Edgewater is a work in progress. It’s unreasonable for investors to expect their units there to compete head-to-head with condos located in neighborhoods such as Brickell and Park West. Finally, the third gripe I keep hearing from people about IconBay has to do with their own expectations. With a name like “Icon”, one comes to expect a certain level of luxury, as what is found with its sister projects Icon South Beach and Icon Brickell, both considered outstanding and highly popular condo developments. Oftentimes, people who have visited Icon South Beach and/or Icon Brickell visit IconBay with very high expectations, only to walk away sorely disappointed. It’s like the first time you watched the movie Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. You couldn’t wait for it to be released in theaters, because you just knew it was going to be amazing, just like the first two parts; yet, in the end, you walked out of the theater asking yourself, What was that crap?. Had you walked into the theater with different expectations, or, better yet, with zero expectations, perhaps you could have enjoyed the movie (actually, no, that was a horrible movie no matter how you slice it).
Of course, there are going to be those who say, Lucas is just being negative. Related Group was able to close all 300 of its units at IconBay. The development was a resounding success. Well, it depends from whose perspective you’re looking. For Related Group, without a doubt, it was an overwhelming success. For investors, not so much. In my opinion, it’s not surprising that all 300 units at IconBay closed. With 50 percent deposits on the line, contract holders weren’t left with much of a choice. (To me, walking away from such hefty deposit money doesn’t seem like much of an option.) If IconBay is such a resounding success, that success should translate into sizable profits for investors (not five or ten years from now, but right now), especially considering the fact that real estate prices in Miami have increased significantly since August 2012, when preconstruction sales launched for condos at IconBay. Recently, I read an article stating that the median sales price of existing condominiums in Miami-Dade County increased 52 of the last 53 months (a period spanning nearly four and a half years). Taking this fact into consideration, one could justifiably assume that initial investors of units at IconBay would have no problem locking in tidy profits post-closing. However, comparing the preconstruction price list dated September 6, 2012 for units at IconBay (shown below) with recent post-closing activity as reported on the MLS, that doesn’t seem to be the case at all. Take, for example, unit 2401 which, as mentioned earlier, closed for $810,000 on October 1st. After taking into account the developer’s fee, commission on the resale, and closing costs on both ends, that preconstruction buyer, by my estimation, likely broke even. And that’s for unit 2401. Units 2601 and 2901, two other units which closed last month and do not appear on the price list below, are located on higher floors; so one could assume that they presold at even higher prices. And let’s not forget about unit 3101, another unit I mentioned earlier in this post; it’s currently asking $780,000 and has been on the market for 79 days.
I leave you all with a thought of the day from Joe Biden. I hate to admit it, but perhaps Joe is finally onto something.
Starchitect Renzo Piano To Introduce Eighty Seven Park In Miami Beach
Miami Beach is getting another starchitect-designed condo building, this time by Pritzker Prize winning Renzo Piano. Eighty Seven Park will be the first project in South Florida to be designed by the famed architect and is located at 87th and Collins on the last piece of land north of North Shore Park at the limit of the city of Miami Beach. The 18-story glass tower will feature oblong floors and wraparound balconies with ocean views. In total, the building will offer 68 residences varying in size from 1,400 to 7,000 square feet.
“The idea behind the site is to enhance the presence of the green spaces in the park by extending trees to the northern limit of the city of Miami Beach,” said a statement from Renzo Piano Building Workshop. The building will be surrounded by a reflection pool and private gardens. Between the residences and the beach will be two swimming pools surrounded by sundecks and a walking path to the shoreline.
Interiors are being designed by Rena Dumas Architecture Interieure from Paris and will feature American oak and Italian stone fittings with orchids, Bonsai trees and cacti. An in-house botanist will maintain the year-round floral display, extending the serene natural feeling from the gardens indoors.
Renzo Piano will join Rem Koolhaas, Zaha Hadid, and Bjarke Ingels with their starchitect-designed projects over the upcoming years. In addition to being the first project for Mr. Piano in South Florida, Eighty Seven Park will also be his first residential building in the United States. Previously, the firm has completed the 95 story Shard, the tallest building in the European Union that is often referred to as London Bridge Tower as well as the 52 story New York Times Building in Midtown Manhattan.
IconBrickell Pool To Close For 12 to 14 Months
Residents of IconBrickell and the Viceroy Hotel (W Hotel) are in for a hot and dry summer, as their famed pool deck will be closed for renovations/repair. Our sources have confirmed that the Icon Brickell pool closing is expected to begin around February 2016 and the work is estimated to be completed in 12 to 14 months.
It has been reported that the Icon Brickell pool renovations will include re-tiling of the pool deck for safety reasons (because the tiles used by the developer are too slippery for use on a pool deck). Others have reported that leaks in the pool have caused damage to the spa and gym below; however, the management office has not cited at this time the exact reason for the closing.
IconBrickell opened in 2008 to rave reviews but few sales due to the economic downturn. The amenities in particular won awards and accolades for their grandiose, superb quality and design. Developed by Related Group, Arquitectonica was chosen as the architecture firm and Philippe Starck handled the interior design. IconBrickell was among the first condo developments to rebound from the economic downturn in Miami. Average sale prices for the second quarter of 2015 have been reported at $583 per square foot for the three towers or $796,000 and rentals have averaged $3,150 per month for the same period.
The pool closing at Icon Brickell has been well known among residents and the real estate community for several months. As such, listings at Icon Brickell have already begun to price in the negative impact that the pool closing is expected to have.
HUD Promises Easier FHA Financing for Condos
For years we have seen hopeful condo buyers, armed with pre-approval letters become frustrated with the financing process and give up or learn that their pre-approval letters are only valid in certain condo developments. The reality is that in order to purchase a condo, two approvals must happen.
First, the buyer must prove financially able to commit to the mortgage payment by submitting their credit and income details to the bank for review. Secondly, the condo development they wish to purchase in must also be approved by the financial institution.
FHA loans are very popular among buyers because of their less stringent qualification guidelines and because of the lower down payment requirements. In order for a building to become FHA approved, they must submit an application to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), pay an application fee, and wait for 60-90 days for an answer. The application is long and cumbersome, the fee is high, and few buildings are approved. This has led to a diminishing number of buildings who are even willing to try for the approval.
For example, the current 95 page application has been submitted by 48 buildings in Miami Beach & Downtown Miami. Of those 48, only 2 buildings meet all of the criteria and have been awarded FHA approval.
If you are a buyer today with an FHA pre-approval, you would be able to purchase a condo in Brickell on the River North or Brickell on the River South. This remains to be the case no matter what your credit score is, how secure and high paying your job may be or how responsible you are. Those would be the two buildings you could choose from. You would be able to use the pre-approval letter to purchase a house, but those are the only two condo buildings that allow FHA mortgages currently.
At this year’s NAR conference in San Diego, an announcement was made by the Federal Housing Administration that changes are underway to the approval guidelines, making FHA mortgage more accessible to condo buyers going forward. Among these changes are restrictions on owner occupancy versus investor owners, commercial space percentage, FHA concentration and spot approvals. We commend NAR and HUD for their efforts in making home ownership more accessible and look forward to seeing the specifics of the changes.
In the meantime, if you are a condo buyer who prefers a lower down payment, there are loan programs in some buildings that allow for less than the standard 20% down payment and are happy to answer questions you may have about financing in condos.
Just Listed – Stunning 2 Bed/2 Bath Condo at Paramount Bay w/ Storage Room Included
I’m pleased to announce our newest listing – a stunning 2 bed/2 bath condo at Paramount Bay with 1,128 interior square feet, an 8-foot deep terrace totaling 242 square feet, white porcelain tiled flooring throughout, private elevator, 10-foot high ceilings with floor-to-ceiling glass windows, large walk-in closet with built-in cabinets, stone kitchen countertops, and stainless steel appliances by Wolf and Sub-Zero. Most importantly, this residence features sweeping, breathtaking views of Biscayne Bay from the kitchen, master bedroom, and master bathroom, including from within the glass-enclosed shower. Price includes a 150 square foot storage room located directly across the hallway from this unit.
The property is currently tenant-occupied but the tenant is scheduled to vacate by December 15th. Priced to sell quickly. Asking $789,000. Last November, unit 1008 (exact same floor plan but located 9 floors lower on the 10th floor) sold fully furnished for $790,000. In my opinion, those 9 floors make a world of difference and more than make up for the fact that this property is being offered unfurnished.
Paramount Bay condos is located at 2020 North Bayshore Drive in Edgewater – Miami’s hottest, emerging neighborhood. Amenities include: east and west swimming pools; hot tub; BBQ; 24-hour concierge; 24-hour valet parking; 6,000 square foot spa and fitness center with sauna, steam and private treatments rooms; business lounge; and separate teen and children’s playrooms. Paramount Bay is a pet-friendly condo development.
If you or someone you know would like to receive additional information and/or to request a showing, please call or text me at 786-247-6332. I can also be reached via email at [email protected].
