Miami Beach Waterfront Homes Blog

Below are some highlights of closed condominium sales for the past 90 days for the more prominent South of Fifth Street buildings such as Murano at Portofino, Murano Grande, Continuum II South Beach and Continuum South Beach, Apogee Miami Beach, Portofino Tower and Icon South Beach.

A total of thirty one (31) luxury condos sold and closed during this period with an average sales price of $2,185,000. The median price per Sq.Ft. was $908, with an average marketing period of 149 days. In EVERY case, these waterfront luxury condominiums were significantly price reduced.

ARE YOU SERIOUS ABOUT SELLING? – If you own a condo in South Beach (especially a South of Fifth Condo), and have had trouble selling, please call us for a free market analysis. I believe in telling it “straight” to clients (or potential clients), as wishful thinking will not carry the day in this real estate environment. However, we are still seeing strong demand and interest from buyers (especially Europeans) for premier waterfront condos in the area.

Once again, the market has shown that it rewards sellers who work with experienced, knowledgeable, detail-oriented, and top producing real estate salespeople. Thanks to aggressive and creative targeted International Marketing Campaigns, we have sold ALMOST our entire Residential listing inventory from the first half of 2008.

Below are a few of the more notable condo sales that have occurred in the over the past ninety days in the South of Fifth Street District:

Apogee Miami Beach

4 beds / 3 baths 4,154 S.F.

Original List Price: $6,700,000 Sales Price: $5,500,000

142 days on Market, $1,324/S.F. Waterfront Corner Unit

Apogee Miami Beach

4 beds / 3 baths 4,154 S.F.

Original List Price: $7,900,000 Sales Price: $7,300,000

147 days on Market, $1,757/S.F. Waterfront Corner Unit

Murano Grande

3 beds / 3 baths 3,979 S.F. Home 3,979 S.F. Land

Original List Price: $4,850,000 Sales Price: $3,100,000

365+ days on Market, $779/S.F. Waterfront Corner Unit

Continuum South Beach

3 beds / 3 baths 2,954 S.F. Home 3,979 S.F. Land

Original List Price: $3,600,000 Sales Price: $3,100,000

471 days on Market, $1,049/S.F. Oceanfront Unit

Icon South Beach

3 beds / 3 baths 2,158 S.F.

Original List Price: $1,799,000 Sales Price: $1,450,000

365+ days on Market, $671/S.F. Bayfront Corner Unit

Portofino Tower

2 beds / 2 baths 2,040 S.F.

Original List Price: $1,625,000 Sales Price: $1,350,000

245 days on Market, $661/S.F. Unobstructed Views Bayfront

Murano at Portofino

2 beds / 2 baths 1,390 S.F.

Original List Price: $1,350,000 Sales Price: $1,150,000

258 days on Market, $827/S.F.

I’d like to highlight a few of the more significant closed sales information for single family homes located on Palm Island, Hibiscus Island, Venetian Islands and Sunset Islands in Miami Beach from May 1 through August 20, 2008.

A total of eighteen (18) luxury homes sold and closed during this time frame with an average sales price of $3,300,000. The median price per s.f. was $731, with the average time on market of 259 days. In EVERY case, ALL of these homes were significantly price reduced, and represent price rollbacks to 2004 price levels.

ARE YOU SERIOUS ABOUT SELLING? – If you own a condo or a single family home in Miami Beach (especially South Beach), and have had trouble selling, please call us for a free market analysis. I believe in telling it “straight” to clients (or potential clients), as wishful thinking will not carry the day in this real estate environment.

Once again, the market has shown that it rewards sellers who work with experienced, knowledgeable, detail-oriented, and top producing real estate salespeople. Thanks to aggressive and creative targeted International Marketing Campaigns, we have sold ALMOST our entire Residential listing inventory from the first half of 2008.

Below are a few of the more notable home sales that have occurred in the over the past four months in Miami Beach:

5 beds / 5 baths 13,000 S.F. Home 19,687 S.F. Land
Original List Price: $22,000,000 Sales Price: $10,600,000
950+ days on Market, $815/S.F. Waterfront Home

5 beds / 4 baths 5,300 S.F. Home 12,163 S.F. Land
Original List Price: $6,000,000 Sales Price: $5,400,000
20 days on Market! $1,018/S.F. Waterfront Home Miami Beach

6 beds / 6 baths 6,000 S.F. Home 10,500 S.F. Land
Original List Price: $6,700,000 Sales Price: $4,600,000
400+ days on Market, $766/S.F. Waterfront Home Venetian Islands

2 beds / 2 baths 2,250 S.F. Home 10,500 S.F. Land
Original List Price: $3,400,000 Sales Price: $2,115,000
503 days on Market, $940/S.F. Waterfront Home Venetian Islands

4 beds / 3 baths 3,138 S.F. Home 10,500 S.F. Land
Original List Price: $3,700,000 Sales Price: $2,300,000
163 days on Market, $732/S.F. Waterfront Home Venetian Islands

5 beds / 4 baths 3,007 S.F. Home 8,414 S.F. Land
Original List Price: $3,700,000 Sales Price: $2,700,000
400+ total days on Market, $897/S.F. Waterfront Home Palm Island

4 beds / 3 baths 3,026 S.F. Home 9,500 S.F. Land
Original List Price: $1,695,000 Sales Price: $1,180,000
562 days on Market, $389/S.F. Non-Waterfront Property Hibiscus Island

I’d like to highlight a few of the more significant closed sales information for single family homes located on Palm Island, Hibiscus Island, Venetian Islands and Sunset Islands in Miami Beach from May 1 through August 20, 2008.

A total of eighteen (18) luxury homes sold and closed during this time frame with an average sales price of $3,300,000. The median price per s.f. was $731, with the average time on market of 259 days. In EVERY case, ALL of these homes were significantly price reduced, and represent price rollbacks to 2004 price levels.

ARE YOU SERIOUS ABOUT SELLING? – If you own a condo or a single family home in Miami Beach (especially South Beach), and have had trouble selling, please call us for a free market analysis. I believe in telling it straight to clients (or potential clients) that wishful thinking will not carry the day in this real estate environment.

Once again, the market has shown that it rewards sellers who work with experienced, knowledgeable, detail-oriented, and top producing real estate sales people. Thanks to aggressive and creative targeted International Marketing Campaigns, we have sold ALMOST our entire Residential listing inventory from the first half of 2008.

Below are a few of the more notable home sales that have occurred over the past four months in Miami Beach:

5 beds / 5 baths 13,000 S.F. Home 19,687 S.F. Land
Original List Price: $22,000,000 Sales Price: $10,600,000
950+ days on Market, $815/S.F. Waterfront Home

5 beds / 4 baths 5,300 S.F. Home 12,163 S.F. Land
Original List Price: $6,000,000 Sales Price: $5,400,000
20 days on Market! $1,018/S.F. Waterfront Home Miami Beach

6 beds / 6 baths 6,000 S.F. Home 10,500 S.F. Land
Original List Price: $6,700,000 Sales Price: $4,600,000
400+ days on Market, $766/S.F. Waterfront Home Venetian Islands

2 beds / 2 baths 2,250 S.F. Home 10,500 S.F. Land
Original List Price: $3,400,000 Sales Price: $2,115,000
503 days on Market, $940/S.F. Waterfront Home Venetian Islands

4 beds / 3 baths 3,138 S.F. Home 10,500 S.F. Land
Original List Price: $3,700,000 Sales Price: $2,300,000
163 days on Market, $732/S.F. Waterfront Home Venetian Islands

5 beds / 4 baths 3,007 S.F. Home 8,414 S.F. Land
Original List Price: $3,700,000 Sales Price: $2,700,000
400+ total days on Market, $897/S.F. Waterfront Home Palm Island

4 beds / 3 baths 3,026 S.F. Home 9,500 S.F. Land
Original List Price: $1,695,000 Sales Price: $1,180,000
562 days on Market, $389/S.F. Non-Waterfront Property Hibiscus Island

The State of Florida is still in desperate need of property tax reform & reduction. The measure that was approved last year has helped to provide some limited tax reductions, but has turned out to be a complicated & very limited property tax reduction effort. There is a new initiative to significantly reduce property taxes next year, called AMENDMENT FIVE, which would eliminate from 25-40% of today’s current property taxes, creating a SIGNIFICANT reduction in the total cost of home and/or business ownership. To replace the lost revenue, Florida sales tax would increase by about 1%.

5 Reasons To Vote YES for Amendment 5

Amendment 5 is a long overdue tax cut for all property owners: families, businesses, second homeowners and investors. Property tax levies have doubled over the past six years – from $15 billion in 2000 to $30 billion in 2006. With higher fuel prices and food costs, and stagnant incomes, it’s no wonder Florida families are struggling to make ends meet. If you’re living the American Dream in Florida, you stand to save 25% to 40% on your property taxes in 2010.

Amendment 5 will jump start Florida’s economy. Economists estimate that Amendment 5 will save property owners more than $10 billion in taxes. This will increase the liquidity and net spendable income of millions of property owners.

Amendment 5 will shift the burden of funding education from property owners to all who access the public school system. Currently, property owners pay a disproportionate share, compared to renters, for our schools. And property owners whose children attend private school pay tuition and public school taxes. By funding schools through sales taxes and other measures, Amendment 5 creates a more equitable tax system.

Amendment 5 offers much-needed tax relief for millions of property owners and continues the momentum created by Amendment 1 – approved by voters in January 2008 – toward reforming Florida’s archaic property tax system. Amendment 5 also pressures legislators to get serious about tapping stable and lucrative revenue sources for schools such as Internet sales (a $3 billion cash cow and an increase in state sales tax — much of it paid by non residents!).

Amendment 5 will provide much-needed tax relief to Florida’s seniors, many of whom fear losing their homes because of an inability to pay higher property taxes on a fixed income. On November 4, you have an unprecedented opportunity to vote YES for the biggest property tax cut in Florida history. Vote YES on Amendment 5.

The Five Most Common Myths about reducing Property Taxes Further:

Myth #1
Opponents say Amendment 5 will take valuable funding away from schools.

False! Amendment 5 requires the Legislature to provide required funding for schools. Instead of the funds coming from property owners in the form of taxes, it could come from sales taxes, reduced spending or any other source determined by lawmakers.

Myth #2
Opponents say Amendment 5 will raise the state sales tax and disproportionately affect the poor and needy.

False on two counts! First, Amendment 5 does not require the Legislature to increase the state sales tax. Second, necessary goods and services will remain exempt from a higher sales tax. These include unprepared food, rent, heating fuel, medicine, electricity and health care services.

Myth #3
Opponents say Amendment 5 equals a sales tax on services.

False! Amendment 5 does not dictate to lawmakers how to make up the revenue to fund our schools — including any new tax on services. It points out obvious options, such as a reduction in spending, and encourages lawmakers to come up with other revenue sources, such as collecting sales tax on items currently taxed in retail stores but not when purchased on the Internet.

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