CEO of Kayak Breaks 2 New Condo Records all on the Same Day
Photo Credit: Eloy Carmenate
Kayak co-founder and CEO Steve Hafner paid $40 million for a penthouse on Fisher Island–Palazzo Della Luna after selling his smaller unit at L’Atelier Miami Beach for $36 million in two straight record-breaking deals.
One of the records include Mr. Hafner’s duplex at L’Atelier Miami Beach, which was listed for $39.9 million in March and sold on Friday. Mr. Hafner purchased his 6-bedroom, 7.5 bathroom unit at L’Atelier Miami Beach for $21 million in 2017 while the project was still under construction. Mr. Hafner and his wife, Staci Hafner, worked with Bart Reines Luxury Home Builder to redesign the 8,000-square-foot unit.
A glass elevator, a private 40-foot infinity pool, and a summer kitchen and bar are all included in the penthouse. SMG Management and W Capital Group developed L’Atelier.
Mr. Hafner then smashed his own record by purchasing a nearly 10,000-square-foot condo at the Palazzo Della Luna on Fisher Island later that evening. The seven-bedroom mansion was first listed for $40 million in 2018 and then relisted for $48 million in April.
The new purchase sits on Fisher Island, a 216-acre private island south of Miami Beach, and is home to around 800 CEOs and business owners. According to the listing, Mr. Hafner’s new house at the Palazzo Della Luna is on the 10th level with various terraces and a rooftop patio with a pool.
According to the company’s website, Mr. Hafner co-founded Kayak Software Corporation, an online travel booking tool, in 2004. Booking Holdings bought the company for $1.8 billion in 2013. According to property records, Mr. Hafner, who also owns residences in Rowayton, Conn., and the Hamptons, sold his New York condominium for $23.5 million earlier this month.
Before these new records, the county’s highest-priced condo purchase of the year was a penthouse at Continuum that sold for $35 million in April. The highest-priced condo transaction ever was a $60 million double penthouse at Faena House in 2015.
According to the press release, Hafner hasn’t been to their NYC apartment since the pandemic first started and they didn’t see a way back. The seller’s were represented by Eloy Carmenate with The Corcoran Group. The buyer of the L’Atelier penthouse is currently unknown.
Cincinnati businessman, Josh Lehman recently sold his Miami Beach Mansion for $17.5 million. The waterfront mansion located on Hibiscus Island was sold 6 months after Lehman first purchased for a profit.
The buyer listed as Top Hibiscus LLC, an entity managed by Jose Carlos Pontes. Pontes is the head of Grupo Marquise a Brazilian-based construction company.
The mansion last sold for $15.5 million in May 2021 closing at a $2,850 per square foot. The current price closes close to $3,219 per square foot. The property was purchased with cash.
The property itself located at 160 S. Hibiscus Drive in Miami Beach features 5 bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms totaling 5,427 square feet of living space. Upon entering, you immediately notice the tall ceilings, floating staircase, and the floor-to-ceiling sliding doors that lead to the exquisite back yard.
The waterfront mansion also features an Ornare custom kitchen, bar, spacious master suite with marble bath and Mia Cucina his/her closets. The exterior is complete with a rooftop deck, infinity edged pool with views of Biscayne Bay, outdoor bbq, and a 2 car garage.
The property was built earlier this year and the architect behind the modern design is Reinaldo Borges with interiors by Tara Nia Design. The home purchase also included a furniture package. The property also features a long dock for up to 38 foot boats.
Pontes, the purchaser of this property also sold another mansion that was located on Hibiscus Island in July 2021. That property located 150 S. Hibiscus was sold for $26.5 million.
Sold Less Than 1 Year Ago- Chris Bosh’s Previous Waterfront Mansion Lists at a 192% Increase
Retired Miami Heat player, Chris Bosh sold his waterfront mansion in January 2021 for $14.4 million. The property located in Miami Beach has now been relisted at $42 million in less than 9 months.
According to county records, the current owner of the property is AquaBlue Group, a building design company also located in Miami Beach. AquaBlue is led by Philippe Harari and mainly does business in Miami. AquaBlue currently owns 2 Palm Island properties, 1 Hibiscus Island property, 1 Venetian Islands property, and a bayfront resort-like retreat.
The Miami Beach property was originally purchased for $695,000 in 1991 and the current home that sits on the lot was developed in 2008. In 2010, Chris Bosh purchased the property for $12.3 million. Over the years, Bosh has tried to sell the property for $18 million and $15 million, later selling in January 2021 for $14.4 million.
The waterfront Miami Beach mansion located at 6396 North Bay Road features 7 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms with 11,709 square feet of living space. The lot itself sits on 0.55 acres of water frontage directly on Biscayne Bay. This modern waterfront was architecturally designed by Touzet Studio with double-height rooms.
The custom Italian kitchen features unique modern cabinets, high-end appliances, and an expansive island. The master suite features direct bay views and a wet bar. The outdoor area is a perfect entertaining space with an outdoor kitchen, cabana bathrooms, infinity pool, gym, guesthouse, and boat dock. Custom branded Italian furniture will be included in the purchase.
The market has been surging with waterfront property transactions, including those on North Bay Road. In June, Dwayne Wade and his wife’s Gabrielle Union sold their home on North Bay Road for $22 million. Phil Collins also sold his waterfront home in January for $39.2 million. Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck rented a waterfront estate just 2 doors down from Wade for $150,000 monthly.
Former Linebacker for the Miami Dolphins Sells Miami Beach Home for $6.25 Million
Photo Credit: Julian Cohen
Orlandus Andre Branch III is a former outside linebacker for the Miami Dolphins, who played from 2016 until his retirement in 2019. Branch recently sold his mansion for $6.25 million after purchases in 2019 for $2.8 million. What an investment!
Located just a couple blocks from Biscayne Bay in the Nautilus neighborhood at 4535 Nautilus Court in Miami Beach. The modern mansion features 6,000 square feet of professionally designed living space.
The 6 bedroom, 6.5 bathroom new construction home features European oak and marble floors throughout and high-end kitchen appliances. The home is completely finished with a steam room, media area, and tall ceilings throughout.
Photo Credit: Julian Cohen
The exterior is perfect for entertaining with an expansive backyard with lush Florida landscaping featuring an outdoor kitchen, oversized terraces, pool, and jacuzzi. The mansion is perfectly located near South Beach, Bal Harbour, and the Design District.
According to Miami-Dade tax records, the home closed on September 3rd, to buyers Bryant M. Yunker Jr. and wife Nancy. Bryant is a retired Wall Street Broker. The Yunker’s also own Sway Lounge, located in Naples, Florida.
This property is the highest-priced sale for a non-waterfront home in the Nautilus neighborhood. This record-breaking sale is just one of the many that have occurred in Miami in 2021.
In July, a waterfront mansion sold as the highest-priced home sale ever in all of Miami-Dade. Bay Harbor Islands also had a record-breaking sale of $12.75 million on a recent waterfront home, making it the highest-priced sale in all of Bay Harbor. Our very own, Lucas Lechuga, also sold one of the highest-priced condo sales for the month of August 2021 at Setai South Beach for $12.3 million.
Luxury Travel Magazine Names Miami Beach One of the Best Beaches in the U.S.
According to Condé Nast Traveler, a luxury and lifestyle travel magazine, dubbed Miami Beach as one of the best beaches in the United States. Miami Beach stands next to three other beaches in Florida including; Grayton Beach State Park, Dunedin, and Sanibel Island.
The magazine stated, “The siren song of Miami’s South Beach is undeniable…beautiful people, flashy cars, Art Deco architecture: It’s all here.” Condé Nast Traveler highlights that Miami Beach is one of the popular and liveliest areas for tourists in Miami.
The magazine also states that the most touristy areas run parallel to Ocean Drive and locals tend to hang around the South of Fifth neighborhood. “But we say those famous white sands are worth bumping elbows with a few fellows,” according to Condé Nast Traveler.
About Miami Beach
It is no debate that Miami Beach does offer some of the most beautiful properties and beaches in the world. Situated on a barrier island, the coastal city is between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay.
The Bass Museum of Art and the New World Symphony are both located in Miami Beach. Other options to visit include a cultural center called the Faena Forum. This cultural center hosts an array of events including; lectures, performances, and large-scale events. Miami Beach is also home to the largest art fair along the east coast.
Miami Beach also has some of the most luxurious condo developments in Miami. Faena House is a 47-unit ultra-luxury condominium tower located at 2901 Collins Avenue. The condos at Faena House are some of the most prized pieces of real estate in South Florida.
Ritz-Carlton Residences Miami Beach located at 4701 N. Merdian Avenue features 15 stand-alone villas comprised of 8 waterfront villas with private boat docks and 7 landside villas surrounded by lush, tropical landscaping. Each of the villas has its own private pool and an air-conditioned two-car garage. Ritz-Carlton Residences features 125 total units.
The lifestyle of Miami Beach is like no other. With its fabulous art and cultural options, luxury condominium buildings, and its vibrant nightlife, there are so many options for every visitor as well as a potential buyer.
Rockstar Energy Drink Founder Purchased Two Waterfront Properties for $35 Million
Photo Credit: BHHS EWM Realty
Founder of Rockstar Energy Drink, Russel Weiner recently purchased 2 waterfront properties in Miami Beach. Located on Pine Tree Drive, the properties were purchased for a combined $35.1 million.
The homes sold include 5011 and 5111 Pine Tree Drive. According to property records, the homes sold for $17 million and $18.1 million. The two properties were sold to a Las Vegas entity that is managed by Russel Weiner’s trust.
Weiner has made significant headway in the South Florida real estate market. In October 2020, Weiner purchased and flipped to homes in North Palm Beach for $48 million from the Swedish model, Elin Nordegren. He also purchased a mansion in 2016 for $20 million. He still owns this home.
According to Forbes, Weiner sold Rockstar Energy to Pepsi for $3.9 billion in 2020. It is estimated that Weiner is worth $4.1 billion.
The sellers, David and Leila Centner, are also the owners of the Centner Academy that is located in the Mami Design District. Earlier this year, the Centner’s received approval from the Miami Beach Design Review Board for an addition on 5011 Pine Tree Drive.
This specific property was built in 1920 by one of the city’s founding families and was designed by architect Russell Pancoast. The approval itself was for a two-story home, relocating the current residence, and relocating the boathouse.
The properties total 3.5 acres each with 150+ water frontage on Indian Creek. The property located at 5111 Pine Tree Drive features 9 bedrooms and 8 bathrooms, with over 20,000 square feet of living space. This property features ‘old world’ charm with hand-crafted hardwood floors, vaulted ceilings, and a Mediterranean design throughout.
The second property located at 5011 Pine Tree Drive is just one property over from 5111. The estate features a 3-story main house, guest house, and 560 square feet of water frontage. This property features a large dock for mega-yachts and multiple vessels. This property previously sold in 2018 for $14.5 million.
Phil Collins’ Former Miami Beach Mansion set to be Demolished
Orlando Bravo, managing partner at Chicago-based private equity, Thomas Bravo purchased Phil Collin’s waterfront mansion in January 2021 for $40 million. Since then Bravo has been working with the City of Miami Beach Design Review Board on plans to submit blueprints for a new construction home.
The existing property located at 5800 North Bay Road features 12,153 square feet of living space including 7 bedrooms, 8 full baths, and 3 half-baths. The property also features a pool overlooking the water, a koi pond, and an expansive jacuzzi.
The 200 feet of Biscayne Bay frontage makes this location ideal with a large boat dock. The home was built in 1929 and was expanded in 1986 as well as 1987. The main house was again altered in 1991 and 2006 with kitchen and bathroom updates. The property sits on 1.2 acres of unobstructed Biscayne Bay views.
Bravo plans to replace the home with a more modern-style mansion with a tropical garden surrounding it. The new residence’s main house would include 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, a formal living room, a family room, a dining room, a movie room, and a wet bar. The residence’s 2 car detached garage would host the staff’s quarters, 2 separate suites as well as 2 home offices. The property will keep the current dock and pool but there will be an outdoor kitchen/barbecue area, spa, and gym.
Not only did Phil Collins own the property but Jennifer sold it in 2005 for $13.9 million. According to the Wall Street Journal, the property is being demolished due to the home having issues with flooding.
