Formula 1 Racing Could Come to Miami Next Year
Miamians, start your engines! Downtown Miami could become the newest destination for Formula One racing as revealed by F1 organizers earlier today. Next week, Miami city commissioners will gather to discuss a proposal which would allow the city to host the sport’s inaugural race as early as October of 2019. If the proposal is approved, Miami will become home to a grand prix race each year until 2028. It would also become the second stop in the US on Formula One’s world championship tour.
F1’s managing director of commercial operations, Sean Bratches, said in a statement: “Miami’s status as one of the world’s most iconic and glamorous cities, combined with its robust tourism infrastructure, makes Miami the perfect destination for Formula One and its fans.”
Stephen Ross, owner of NFL franchise Miami Dolphins, is another key supporter of the proposal. He’s also been a vocal player in the relocation of the Miami Open tennis tournament to Hard Rock Stadium beginning next year. “Miami is a first-class global city and Formula One is a first-class global brand”, Ross added. “In cooperation with the City of Miami and Miami-Dade County, I am confident we can deliver yet another global event that will be a destination for people from around the world and drive economic value to South Florida.”
**UPDATE** On the afternoon of Thursday, May 10th, the county commissioners officially approved the resolution to “bring the Formula 1 Racing Circuit to the City of Miami for the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix from 2019 to 2028” with a 5-0 vote. While all the terms and details remain to be negotiated, “It’s a Yes to the proposal,” says Miami Mayor Francis Suarez. The first race is slated for October 2019 with a proposed 2.57-mile route passing through downtown, across Port Boulevard, and around the American Airlines Arena. Given the massive global fan base and viewership, F1 is certain to bring South Florida a serious economic boost, and Miami residents are thrilled by the possibilities.
The Venetian Causeway Upgraded One of Miami’s Most Used Bike Routes
The Venetian Causeway, which is home to one of Miami’s most popular bike route, has upgraded the experience for cyclists by unveiling green bike lanes. The high emphasis green bike lane project began in December with plans to have it completed in the coming months.
The slip-resistant lanes were created to promote a “share the road” mentality, so that drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians could all have an enjoyable experience. Originally, the lanes were only planned to cover the Miami Beach city limit stretch but the county later agreed to allocate additional funds so that each 2.5-mile stretch could be covered.
The lanes head both east and west, so riders can enjoy the new bike lanes heading into and out of Miami Beach. Additionally, if you are riding east and heading for South Beach, you’ll now be able to find 65 long-term parking spots in the 17th Street garage. Miami Beach unveiled these spots last week with an option to park overnight if needed.
With the new green bike lanes providing cyclists with a safer biking experience, the Venetian Causeway should remain one of Miamians favorite bike routes for many more years to come.
The City Of Miami Has A Holiday Gift For Us
Happy Holidays, Miamians! The Miami Parking Authority is giving us all the gift of lenient parking until after the New Year by bringing out their “Holiday Parking Courtesy Citation Program” once again.
Here’s how it works… From December 15, 2017 at 12:01am until January 1, 2018 at 11:59pm, those people who are a little late back to their car will receive a special Holiday Courtesy Citation that grants them one free hour of parking. It’s like a Holiday card from the meter maid!
The program only works for those who park in the CITY OF MIAMI spots, and you have to purchase parking either at a single-space meter, Pay by Plate master meter or the Pay by Phone app.
“The Miami Parking Authority Holiday Parking Courtesy Citation Program is one of the many ways our organization supports the local community. This program reflects our appreciation for the support that we receive throughout the year from our customers, while, simultaneously, helping the local business community by making the parking experience easier for their patrons,” said Alejandra Argudin, Chief Operations Officer of the Miami Parking Authority.
In addition to the free hour, if you live within the boundaries of the City of Miami and are registered with the Customer Service department, you receive a 20% discount on the parking fee plus the $.35 convenience fee is waived when you use Pay-By-Phone.
Thank you, Miami Parking Authority!!
Market Stat Monday: Almost $50 Million In Contracts Signed Post-Irma
It has been a few weeks now since the skies have cleared in Greater Downtown Miami after Hurricane Irma’s brush, and despite a little bit of flooding and debris, we were very lucky. Now that cleanup is under way, how have the condo sales fared?
Not too bad, if I must say. Despite having only two functional weeks in September, nearly $50 million in resale contracts were signed on 79 total units.
The least expensive listing to find a buyer was at the Loft II Downtown, where a 770 square foot one bedroom was listed for $175,000. Of the 79 units that went to contract, 50 of them were listed for under $500,000. We will find out the final sales prices once they close.
In the luxury segment, there were a total of 6 properties listed over $1 million that found buyers. Among them was the crown jewel penthouse #1 at Asia on Brickell Key. With nearly 5,000 interior square feet through three levels including a dramatic rooftop terrace with a private pool, the sellers had asked $8.5 million, or $1,715/square foot.
Comparing September of 2017 to September of 2016, you will see that 2016 brought both a higher number of transactions as well as a higher volume of listings sold, but not enough to make it an overall better month considering that September 2017 was short due to people being distracted by the hurricane and Hurricane Matthew didn’t brush South Florida until October of last year. September of 2016 brought just over $60 million of listings sold, with 119 total transactions.
To celebrate the end of a successful yet stressful September, let’s check out some photos of that Asia Penthouse!
Miami Condo Investments’ Most Popular Buildings in Greater Downtown Miami
I thought about doing a TBT post today, but then changed my mind. There is so much going on in today’s real estate market, why talk about the past? New buildings are opening every month, people are curious about how these new buildings compare to the ones that were new in years past. So which buildings are currently the most popular by condo shoppers?
I took a look through our Google Analytics report to see what our readers are looking at the most. In the time period from May 14, 2017-June 14, 2017, MiamiCondoInvestments.com received a total of nearly 73,000 page views. Of those, here are the ten most viewed building pages. This list does not include views of individual listings, just of the building pages themselves, where you can find inventory lists, market statistics and closed sale/rental data.
1 – SLS Brickell – 1,219 views
It makes sense that SLS Brickell would take the number one spot with an overwhelming lead. The project was very much anticipated by future tenants, owners and pool-party-goers alike. Move-ins began in late December/early January and have moved on at a rapid pace, leaving the building almost at full occupancy now, with demand still strong. Our agents alone have handed out 16 sets of keys in the building, with a healthy book of buyers and prospective tenants still shopping.
2 – Reach at Brickell City Centre – 731 views
I would have been surprised if Brickell City Centre didn’t make this list! This project was the catalyst that fueled the buying craze in Brickell over recent years and reinvigorates the neighborhood that was once a dense yet sleepy enclave of beautiful high rises that became quiet at night. Reach was the first residential tower to open in Brickell City Centre, and is also approaching occupancy. When the project initially opened, one bedrooms started at $2,400-$2,450/month, but now have risen to $2,650/month.
3 – Brickell Heights East – 715 views
The newest new building on the block also made the list, and no surprise there. Our photo tour of Brickell Heights just days before they opened was one of the most popular blog posts so far this year, and the amount of calls we get for it is a very good sign that the initial occupancy of the building will go smoothly.
4 – 1100 Millecento – 700 views
Millecento’s place as number 4 on the list was a bit more surprising, but not in a bad way. It’s not the newest building in the area, so people aren’t hungry for a preview. There’s really no drama going on with the building (that I have heard of at this time), so people aren’t looking for gossip and info. We still receive a healthy amount of calls and contact requests on Millecento, so I feel it’s safe to say that the traffic is good ol’ prospective residents. That’s great!
5 – Biscayne Beach – 638 views
Edgewater’s newest new building is also on the charts. We covered the progress & opening extensively, so it makes sense that blog readers are interested in the progress. We also have a beautiful 3 bedroom unit listed on the 30th floor with direct bay and Downtown Miami views. It is well-priced and a blank canvas inside. With the amount of attention the building receives, I feel that it will sell quickly.
6 – The Bond on Brickell – 615 views
The Bond is very popular for people who want to live in a brand-new condo in Brickell, but prefer understated elegance and high quality finishes over the kitschy excess that is SLS Brickell. We receive many calls about this building, and there have also been many of our clients who have called about SLS Brickell but then chosen The Bond. It is like SLS Brickell’s quieter sister.
7 – The Plaza at Brickell East Tower – 531 views
The Plaza is basically a Brickell staple. I was surprised that it received more views than any of the IconBrickell towers, but that just shows what the market is interested in. We did a market report on Monday about The Plaza and found that sellers and landlords fare better in today’s market by removing that horrible outdated berber carpet from 2008. There is too much competition in the neighborhood to expect buyers and tenants to sign up for old berber carpet (in case I didn’t make my point on Monday).
8 – BrickellHouse – 530 views
Despite their garage saga, BrickellHouse remains a popular building in the neighborhood. Yes, the garage is broken. No, we don’t know when it will be fixed. Despite that, the finishes are quite lovely, the views and location are great and it remains very popular among our clients.
9 – IconBrickell Tower 1 – 477 views
Of course IconBrickell would be on the list. It has remained one of our most requested buildings since it opened… even since the pool closed. The pool should reopen by the end of the year.
10 – Jade Residences at Brickell Bay – 468 views
Jade is one of the most luxurious buildings in the neighborhood, even after 13 years. Although most buildings in Brickell have beautiful bay views, Jade is where you go if you want an extremely luxurious setting with private elevators and direct bayfront. The only building it competes with is the Santa Maria, except that Jade is more modern and in a more walkable section of the neighborhood.
Do you think that the top viewed buildings on our website are surprising, or expected?
Tenant Sues Condo Association For Price Gouging On Application Fees
Quantum on the Bay
A tenant at Quantum on the Bay in the Omni district finally did something about the high application fees that are being charged to prospective tenants, according to the Miami Herald. He is suing them because their application fees are in excess of the $100 cap that the Florida statute issues.
This has been an ongoing problem for tenants in many of the Downtown area buildings for several years. Some condo associations use these elevated fees in order to avoid having to make a special assessment on the unit owners for repairs or upgrades. The association at Quantum once had a $400 application fee, but it was later reduced to $150 after so many potential tenants complained. In order to continue bringing the income that they once received from the application fees, they split it into the application fee plus the administrative fees. Some other buildings have ‘impact fees’ of $500, but Quantum is one of the highest priced buildings in the area for a tenant to apply for.
Even though it is not lawful for a building to charge these exorbitant fees to tenants, many still do. The tenants really have no choice but to accept the fees. Protesting only causes delay and added expenses. If they miss their move-in date, they would need to stay at a hotel until the issue is resolved and there is still no guarantee that it would be resolved in their favor without a lawsuit. The Government Affairs department of our Miami Association of Realtors has been lobbying in Tallahassee for some time already, trying to convince them to enforce the laws.
Now, most buildings also charge a security deposit for the common areas and for pets, but that is different. Security deposits are returned. We typically see a security deposit that is held through the duration of the lease in order to guarantee there will not be damage to the common areas, a smaller security deposit for the actual move to guarantee that the elevators and hallways are not damaged by the movers and/or a pet deposit to the building.
You can read more about the Florida Condominium Act here, so that you know your rights. While it seems that Quantum is being singled out, this is a large problem throughout the marketplace and something that we are striving to change. On a day to day basis, the best we can do is see that our clients get settled as peacefully and efficiently as possible. On a larger scale, we are very much a part of the efforts from the Miami Association of Realtors to bring change to this practice.
