Miami Beach Waterfront Homes Blog

The current status of the real estate sales industry, especially those working the Miami Beach market, is in a state of change and consolidation.  I started my Real Estate career in 1998 with much success, and that success has grown each year both during the “boom” market of 2002-2006 and the current “bubble burst” market.  During those “boom” years, it seemed as if everyone and their friends had a real estate license.  Real Estate became the “in” topic of discussion- due both to the lucrative commissions and also the cultural and social appeal of shows such as House Hunters, HGTV, etc.  It seemed as if everyone wanted to be a part of the real estate phenomenon, and this was easily attainable via easy mortgages and equity lines of credit.

The “easy” money in earning a real estate commission from the sale of a property is long gone.  Today’s market requires Agents and Brokers who have strong organizational skills, attention to detail, intimate knowledge of realistic market values, a close relationships with lenders, patience, and most importantly strong negotiation skills.  The task of taking a buyer around and showing him some good “deals” is just the beginning of a successful real estate transaction.  In this market, the key is to provide a strong value-added service to the customer (both to buyers and sellers).

My professional strategy for the last few years has been to focus on investing in both the people who comprise my team and in marketing resources for our clients.  This involves such mundane but important tasks as maintaining meticulous files and a system for following up with pending offers and contracts, as well as investing in new marketing resources that allow us to promote our clients properties to influential Brokers around the world.  My highest priority, however, has been to build and retain a trained, motivated, knowledgeable, and honest team of agents that are committed to the business.

A few of the latest successfully CLOSED sales of Miami Beach single family homes that are worthy of note:

Palm Island Luxury Home

Palm Island Luxury. Granite kitchen counters w/stainless viking equipment. Marble floors and terrace with hard wood in bedrooms. Large master with walk in closets & balcony. Infinity set river rock pool w/paver deck and wet bar. Seperate maid quarters. Full emergency generator and Gated entry to prestigious Palm Island.

Sales Price: $690,000
Previous Asking Price : $1,150,000
Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 4
House S.F.: 2,694
Land S.F.: 6,000

South Beach Home

Rare single family home in South Beach by renowned 1930s architect. $325k+ renovation incl new: tile roof, PGT impact windows, HVAC, elec, plumbing, lighting, heated salt pool, marble paver deck, prof landscape. New in 2008: sleek custom kitchen w/ Sub-Zero/Thermador/Bosch, exotic stone; 3 new marble baths – Hansgrohe/Duravit/Toto fixts, body sprays, wenge vanities. Original wood floors, 11′ ceiling in sunny rotunda Living Room w/ honed coral-rock fireplace, Moorish detail arches. Corner lot in Flamingo Park neighborhood of Miami Beach.

Sales Price: $1,139,750
Previous Asking Price : $1,350,000
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 3
House S.F.: 2,142
Land S.F.: 7,500

Venetian Island Waterfront Home

Prime Venetian Island property, 60 x 175 waterfront lot with 10,500 Sq. Ft.  Minutes from South Beach, The Performing Arts center, and Downtown Miami.  Panoramic Bay views of Downtown Miami, the cruise ships, and Palm Island.  This home offers Miami Beach waterfront living at its finest!

Sales Price: $1,970,000
Previous Asking Price : $3,350,000
Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 5
House S.F.: 3,268
Land S.F.: 10,500
60 ft. of waterfront

Old Spanish Village – Spectacular New Coral Gables Residential/Office Development

As a member of Miami’s elite Real Estate Professional’s Association- The Master Broker’s Forum, I had the privilege of attending a dinner on the future site of Old Spanish Village in Coral Gables.

After assembling approximately 20 parcels of residential and commercial office buildings, visionary builder Ralph Sanchez is rolling out this mixed use project in the heart of Coral Gables. Featuring new 400 upscale condos and townhouse, which will be completed in the second half of 2009.  Old Spanish Village will comprise a seven acre complex of homes, offices and shops in the Ponce Circle area. The 42 three story townhomes will come with elevators, roof top terraces and two car garages. All residential units will be between 3,500 – 4,500 sqft., with exclusive Founders prices starting at just over $1 million ($370/S.F.).

When completed, Old Spanish Village will comprise an office tower, mid-rise condominiums, and town-home villas.  All designed to evoke a classic Spanish architectural style.  This mixed use project was inspired by the vision of Coral Gables founder George Merrick and is the modern realization of one of several themed enclaves in the city, such as the French, Chinese and Dutch villages that Mr. Merrick conceived and created in the 1920’s.

Residential Towers:
One Ponce Circle will be a 16-story mixed use building with 59 condos ranging from 2,500 – 8,5000 sq.ft., with private elevators that open directly into apartments.

Casa Palermo is a separate six story residential tower with 96 residences ranging from 800-1,500sqft., and comprising 1 & 2 bedroom units.

3001 Ponce De Leon Blvd – 9 stories of 172 (1,2 and 3 bedroom) condominiums.

This very unique and highly desirable project will resemble a Spanish inspired architectural village concept.  The developers had in mind a Spanish Town and a Spanish Bazaar Village concept.

The Developer has hired Miami historian Arva Parks and plans were devised for Old Spanish Village in the spirit of Merrick’s Spanish-themed villages (planned many years ago but never realized).