Marina Blue – A Repeat Performance for Hyperion Development or a New Chance to Shine?
A very interesting article regarding the condo development called Marina Blue was published yesterday in the International Herald Tribune. The article focuses on Hyperion Development, the developer of Marina Blue, and its damaged reputation as a result of the large “delays and unhappy buyers” at its first development called Blue.
Some residents at the first tower, named Blue, are threatening to sue the company for not delivering on amenities while other owners at the 330-unit complex are trying to sell their condos for less than they paid.
Blue’s problems have hurt Hyperion’s reputation enough that consultants say that some buyers who put down deposits at the company’s second tower, the 516-unit Marina Blue, may decide not to close. Other Marina Blue buyers have sued to get their deposits back.
The problems raise questions about the ability of Hyperion to repay a $110 million construction loan as well as its ability to develop future projects in the Miami market.
It will be interesting to see if Hyperion Development has learned its lesson and delivers all amenities and common areas completely done at Marina Blue. I know from reading the comments that are left here, that this is a HUGE concern of contract holders of condos at Marina Blue and those who have an interest in purchasing a condo there. Sales agents at the Marina Blue sales office have assured me that all common areas will be delivered when closings begin but I won’t believe it until I see it. Closings are scheduled to begin within the next week, so we won’t have to wait long to see if those promises were kept. You can be sure that I’ll be keeping a close eye on how closings go at Marina Blue in the upcoming months.
Marina Blue – Two Condos on High Floors For Sale
Someone who has contracts on two great units at Marina Blue contacted me earlier this week. He wants to sell one prior to closing and hold onto the other.
The first condo is unit 5108. The 08 line is the best line in the entire building since it is situated in the middle of the building and has the best views. This condo has 10-foot ceilings. All units on the 45th floor or higher have 10-foot ceilings as opposed to the non-loft units below that have 9-foot ceilings. The unit has 1,334 square feet of interior space and a 160 square foot balcony. He is asking $740,000 for this unit.
The second condo is unit 4609. It is a very rare floor plan that I didn’t even know existed in the building. There are only six units that have this floor plan in the entire building. The condo has a total of 1,754 square feet of interior space and a 240 square foot balcony. As with the other unit, it has 10-foot ceilings. Both units have amazing water views. You can see the South Beach skyline, Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. As you can see from the floor plan below it has a huge living room. He is asking $899,000 for this unit.
Closings are likely to begin at Marina Blue in December. Contact me if you or someone you know has an interested in either of these two units.
Latest Prices at Ten Museum Park
Below you will find the latest prices for units at Ten Museum Park. These are defaulted units that were taken back by the developer. They have been discounted 15 percent off of their original prices set in January of 2004. Contact me if you’re interested in viewing any of these units.
1 Bedroom/1.5 Bath – 858 interior SF/143 exterior SF
1608 – $335,000
3008 – $350,000
1905 – $325,000
2 Bedrooms/2.5 Baths – 1,239 interior SF/192 exterior SF
4106 – $450,000
2 Bedrooms/2.5 Baths – 1,906-1,949 interior SF/192 exterior SF
1602 – $799,000
2504 – $825,000
3 Bedrooms + den/5 Baths -4,005 interior SF/533 exterior SF
I’m going to go out on a limb and say that the east-facing units at Ten Museum Park will be selling 10-15 percent above where they are now by year’s end. I know, I know…the Miami condo market is in a rut. But that’s just my point. The east-facing units at Ten Museum Park are not condo units. They are lofts with 20-foot ceilings. Of all the high-rise developments in Miami, both existing and under construction, only Ten Museum Park can rightfully call themselves an ultra-luxury loft building.
Of the 200 units at Ten Museum Park, 73 of them have 20-foot ceilings with floor-to-ceiling windows. You will see that in future months there will be a premium paid for these units versus other units, not only in this building, but other buildings throughout Miami as well. I’ve already seen a lot of demand for these units in the past two months as some have been discounted due to original buyers not wanting to close. I think by the end of October the discounted units at Ten Museum Park will be nonexistent. The discounted loft units will be long gone by the end of September.
The amount of demand for units at Ten Museum Park has surprised even me, a big advocate of the development. The loft units at Ten Museum Park are truly something unique for Miami. They offer loft living combined with true luxury and gorgeous unobstructed water views, all residing in a neighborhood that, in my opinion, will be the best in Miami within the next five years.
Parc Lofts is a loft building in its truest form, but it is an industrial loft with minimal water views from higher floors, and offers no luxury. I’m a huge fan of that development as well though because it offers something very unique to the Miami market. Star Lofts, which will begin closings shortly, offers lots of luxury but resides in a neighborhood that does not even come close to the neighborhood of Park West. The prices are much higher as well. I think we’ll see a large percentage of defaulted units there. Infinity at Brickell isn’t quite as luxurious, nor does it have the unobstructed water views that the east-facing lofts at Ten Museum Park can offer, but it is probably the closest loft development to Ten Museum Park that offers the kwan: views, luxury, neighborhood and best investment dollars too.
Much of the luxury at Ten Museum Park lies in what it has to offer above other Miami developments. Primarily, it has the Clinique La Prairie spa which is based in Switzerland. By many, it is considered the best spa in the entire world. People from all over the world have been flying to Switzerland to enjoy the lavish spa treatments for which Clinique La Prairie is well known. Some of those treatments promise to slow down the aging process. The Clinique La Prairie spa at Ten Museum Park will be the first U.S. spa with their name associated.
Secondly, Michael Capponi’s name is associated with Ten Museum Park. For those not local to Miami, the Michael Capponi name is synonymous with the abbreviation V.I.P. He can get you into any party, any restaurant and any event that is well attended. Residents at Ten Museum Park will be able to count on Michael Capponi to get them V.I.P. accommodations to any social gathering that is worth attending.
I think those two aspects alone rise Ten Museum Park to the forefront of all other Miami developments. However, Ten Museum Park is also a boutique building with only 200 total units. Most other developments in Miami have well over 400 total units. There are only 6 units per floor at Ten Museum Park. The east-facing units share one bank with two elevators with one another. The units residing on the west side of the building share a bank with two elevators which accommodates four units. This is another good reason to be on the east side of the building.
Marquis – The Fourth Luxury High-Rise Building in Miami’s Park West Neighborhood
I’ve been getting a lot of interest in Ten Museum Park from both local and out-of-state buyers. Most of them inquire about the developments in the immediate vicinity to Ten Museum Park, such as 900 Biscayne Bay and Marina Blue to the south, and Marquis to the north. One can get a good idea of how beautiful 900 Biscayne Bay and Marina Blue will be when completed by looking at the current progress in development. Marquis, however, probably won’t be finished until the middle of next year and, as can be seen in the picture above, much is left to one’s imagination. (The picture was taken July 7, 2007).
I wanted to share some photos that I took of the Marquis sales center back in 2005 to show people what the building is supposed to look like once it is completed. Marquis is an ultra-luxury building and, if I remember correctly, prices ranged from $700,000 to $15M. It will have 306 ultra-luxury residences on floors 15-67 as well as a 10,000 square foot spa/fitness center and boutique hotel aspect to it with 56 hotel rooms on floors 3-14. The architect behind Marquis Residences is world-renowned Arquitectonica, which also did Marina Blue and a myriad number of luxury condo buildings throughout Miami.
There is definitely a big price difference in units located on the north side of Ten Museum Park versus those residing on the south side. Most of this is due to the close proximity that Marquis lies to Ten Museum Park. I think the spread in prices will narrow once Marquis is completed and buyers see that having a building that will be one of Miami’s most luxurious addresses isn’t such a bad thing.
900 Biscayne Bay – Sneak Peak at a Luxury Miami Preconstruction Condo Building – Pictures & Video
Last week I was afforded the opportunity to walk through an almost finished townhouse unit at 900 Biscayne Bay. It was priced, from the developer, at around $945,000 (I don’t remember the exact figure but it is very close, if not exact). The pictures and the short video clip that I shot of the unit are found below.
First, let me provide a little background.
Last weekend an out-of-state couple contacted me to find them a luxury second-home condo. They wanted a great deal but didn’t want to skimp on quality or views. They wanted to buy into a luxury condo building that was either brand new or one that was relatively new or recently remodeled that offered luxury finishes, amenities and views.
In one short day, most of which was scheduled on a 1-2 hour notice, I was able to show them a unit at Jade Brickell, Emerald at Brickell, Imperial at Brickell and The Palace. I was also able to get them a guided tour of Ten Museum Park and Latitude on the River. We also visited the 900 Biscayne Bay sales office just before closing hours. They had a strong interest in a townhouse unit at 900 Biscayne Bay and wanted a guided tour of the actual unit. One was arranged for the following afternoon.
To say the least, they were offered a thorough look at the Miami condo real estate market on their first day looking at Miami condos. They got to see more luxury condo buildings than most people living in Miami have seen in their lives. They were due to leave back home early Wednesday morning. The aforementioned showings all occurred last Monday from 12:30pm to 6:30pm.
We picked everything back up early Tuesday morning with a visit to Carbonell in Brickell Key. They loved everything about the building and the unit that we saw, but the water views off the 2 bedroom were good but not fantastic.
I then took them to Marina Blue where they fell in love with the unobstructed water views and great deals that could be obtained there.
They still had an appetite, however, to take the tour of the townhouse unit that they were interested in at 900 Biscayne Bay. Our next stop was the 900 Biscayne Bay sales office so we could don our hard hats and goggles and trek to the unit.
Fortunately, I brought along my trusty digital camcorder along to take pictures and shoot as much video as I could in our short stay at the 900 Biscayne Bay townhouse that we visited. The following pictures and video clip are from a townhouse unit on the 7th and 8th floors at 900 Biscayne Bay.
Again, this is a townhouse unit at 900 Biscayne Bay. Not all units at 900 Biscayne Bay will offer such bi-level floor plans and high ceilings. In fact, most of them do not.
The townhouse that we saw was a 2 bedroom/2den/3 bath unit. I felt that the bedrooms were pretty small. They should have removed one of the dens and added that space to the master bedroom. The finishes, however, were just as impressive as they were in the sales center. 900 Biscayne Bay should be completed towards the beginning of 2008.
Advice to Miami Condo Buyers
This is a follow-up post to one I wrote a few weeks ago entitled “Advice to Miami Condo Sellers“. That post has become one of my most widely read posts.
I’ve always been more of a buyer’s agent than a seller’s agent. It’s been that way ever since I started in this business. I’ve never been much of a salesman though. In fact, I initially didn’t even want to become a real estate agent because I always analogized the phrase “real estate agent” to “sales person”. The latter always made me cringe. Thoughts of “selling somebody” or “making a sale happen” didn’t favor well with me.
I finally realized, however, that people will always have a need to buy housing and finding buyers the best deals is a niche within itself. I figured that with my financial background I could provide a unique perspective and a more in-depth analysis of the market than most agents. This blog is a natural extension of that mindset years ago.
Nowadays, it seems like everyone is looking for a deal and the right opportunity to buy in Miami. The million dollar question that I get from the people who contact me each day is “When will be the best time to buy a condo in Miami?”.
The answer to that question depends on your objectives and knowledge of the Miami condo market. If you’re an investor “looking to buy a condo in a good neighborhood of Miami at a significant discount” then the answer to that question is as vague as your objective – “Nobody knows!”. That’s like saying that you want to buy the best stock at the bottom of a bear market. Good luck!
Some of the people who contact me have only been to Miami once or twice in their life. Some haven’t ever visited Miami, but have read about Miami and have seen the gorgeous palm trees and majestic waters in movies. For those of you, the opportunity to buy a Miami condo at the “best” time won’t ever come. You need to have knowledge of what you want before you can ascertain the best time to buy it. A knowledgeable Realtor can’t even point you in the right direction without first knowing which direction that might be.
Having an objective like wanting to buy a two bedroom condo at Ten Museum Park with a direct bay view on a high floor at a 20 percent discount of 2004 prices is much better. An opportunity like that may or may not present itself but at least you know what you want and a local Realtor will be much better equipped to help you find it.
Keep in mind that the “market bottom” for the Miami condo market might not necessarily be the best time to buy for people with such a pinpoint objective as the one above. These people might miss out on better opportunities that will have passed them by. For example, take the 2 bedroom condo going up for auction at Villa Regina that I mentioned in yesterday’s post. That condo may very well sell for the best price per square foot of any condo at Villa Regina from here on out. Someone looking to buy a condo at Villa Regina, but is waiting for the condo market to bottom in Miami, might miss out on a fantastic opportunity. It may or may not end up being the best deal at Villa Regina but keep in mind that only one person will buy the bottom. Wouldn’t you be happy though knowing that you bought at a 20 percent or 30 percent discount or whatever it may be?
My advice for those buyers who will be end-users is the same. Know what you want and the price point that will make you happy. Opportunities to buy condos in Miami at a discount with built-in equity are already present. Foreclosures, auctions and short sales all offer these opportunities. Being happy with the condo in which you will live should be the primary concern for end-users, not price. Having a cushion to weather the storm that lies ahead is an added bonus.
There is no doubt that condo prices will correct themselves from the highs that we experienced in 2005 and beginning of 2006. In my opinion, they already have. I feel that we’re already back at 2004 prices. Every week I get a number of calls and emails from people who bought preconstruction condos as resales in 2005 and beginning of 2006. They want to know if there is any chance to break-even if they close on their preconstruction condo contracts and sell at current market prices. The answer is overwhelmingly “NO”. The current market price is usually at or slightly below the amount of their deposit money, which the majority of the time is 20 percent. This tells me that we are already at least 20 percent off the highs.
The inventory problems of the Miami condo market is old news. Demand dried up over a year ago as a result of this news. The real estate market, however, is not as liquid and as efficient as the financial markets. Buyers have already processed the news about the Miami condo market. Sellers have begun to process the news but can’t simply hit the best bid to get themselves out. Those selling existing condos can, however, lower their prices.
The fate of the preconstruction condo market is different though. The news came out over a year ago but we’re all waiting for the condos to close to see where they will get priced. Nobody knows! It’s like trading has been halted, due to news, and we’re all standing around waiting for the market to reopen.
As a side-note to investors and second home buyers unfamiliar with Brickell, if you’re looking to buy a newly constructed condo in a bayfront building within the next 7 months then you won’t find any. Of the five developments scheduled for completion within the next 7 months in Brickell, none of them are bayfront buildings. Only two, Latitude on the River (which has begun closings) and Brickell on the River South, are waterfront buildings. They both, as their name implies, reside on the Miami River. Of the four developments scheduled for completion in 2009, only two, Icon Brickell and Epic, are bayfront developments. After those are completed only one bayfront parcel will be left in Brickell. Villa Magna was planned for development on that parcel but the project was recently canceled and the fate of that land is still up in the air.
As for the four buildings being developed in the Downtown Miami neighborhood known as Park West, none are bayfront but they might as well be. Ten Museum Park, Marina Blue, 900 Biscayne and Marquis each reside directly behind Biscayne Boulevard and what was formerly known as Bicentennial Park, both of which won’t obstruct views of the bay as long as they are owned by the city of Miami.
Marina Blue – Closings to Begin Towards the End of September 2007
I was notified today that closings at Marina Blue are scheduled to begin towards the end of September. Marina Blue is a 60-story luxury high-rise building going up in the neighborhood known as Park West. The fantastic thing about Marina Blue is that every unit has a beautiful view of Biscayne Bay.
As closing dates approach, there are some great opportunities to own a condo at Marina Blue. As in other developments, there are investors who purchased condos at Marina Blue in hopes to flip them prior to closing. As everyone knows, the market has changed dramatically in the past two years and many of these speculators are content to accept a loss on their deposit to avoid having to close.
I received a phone call last weekend from someone who placed a one bedroom condo under contract at Marina Blue for $296,000 as a resale. The condo is on the 15th floor and has 845 square feet of interior space. He was still in his 15-day rescission period and wanted to know if I felt that he got a good price. I told him that he got a great price. In my opinion, anything under $300,000 is a solid buy at Marina Blue. The long-term prospects for that neighborhood are great. I feel that one bedroom condos at Marina Blue will easily rent for $1,700 per month.
Currently, there’s a one bedroom for sale at Marina Blue that is on the 17th floor. It is listed at $320,000. The condo has 845 square feet. I think this unit can be acquired for under $300,000.
There’s also a 2 bedroom at Marina Blue on the 9th floor that is listed for $455,000. This condo has 1,327 square feet of interior space. If you can get this condo for around $430,000 then I think that your long-term prospects are bright.
In the upcoming years, I feel that Park West will be the best condo neighborhood in all of Miami. It was developed to be Miami’s equivalent to Manhattan’s Park Avenue.
At the beginning of July, I published a post about the neighborhood of Park West and the four luxury high-rise buildings being developed in that neighborhood. The post was entitled “Pictorial & Video Review of The Fantastic Four in Miami“. Take a look at that post for more information about the Downtown Miami neighborhood of Park West and what it has to offer. You will also see some pictures and a video of Marina Blue as it stood towards the beginning of July.
1/1.5 @ Ten Museum Park for $310,000 – Reduced Again!
Someone contacted me last week to see if I could help them find a buyer for their 1 bedroom/1.5 bath condo at Ten Museum Park. He is perfectly able to close but would rather sell it to an end-user than carry it for a while. If he closes on the unit though then he will end up holding onto it. His closing date is approximately 30 days from now but he thinks that he could have it extended if an interested buyer surfaces.
His condo has 886 square feet of interior space and a 143 square foot terrace. It is an “05” line. The floor plan is below.
As of now, the best priced “05” line available on the MLS through the developer is priced at $400,000. Here is your opportunity to buy at Ten Museum Park for much less. Make an offer today!
