Miami Real Estate Perspective

Finally some good news in the Miami Beach real estate market. The last unit has been sold at 734 Michigan Avenue, also known as 7 Townhomes. The ultra-modern townhomes are located at 734 Michigan Avenue in the heart of South Beach and consists of seven tri-level townhomes. Each residence features soaring 28-foot ceilings, private rooftop terraces and indoor assigned parking. I have been the exclusive listing agent for the project since it was constructed in 2006 and am proud to have sold out the building, especially in this market!

For more information about the project please visit the 7 Townhomes web page on my website. Here you will find detailed information about the building as well as see if there are any current units for sale.

Located at the northern tip of Bal Harbour sits one of the most luxurious condominiums ever built. When it comes to luxury and quality, One Bal Harbour stands alone. It is positioned directly on the Atlantic Ocean where the ocean connects to Biscayne Bay via the Baker's Haulover Inlet. One Bal Harbour opened it's doors in early 2008 and has been getting great reviews. It is one of the only new buildings built in Bal Harbour and is just a short walking distance to the highly coveted Shops of Bal Harbour and other area attractions.

One Bal Harbour is connected to the Regent Bal Harbour luxury hotel so in addition to the services of an ultra-exclusive luxury condominium, residences also have access to the hotel amenities. On the contrary, hotel guests are not allowed access to the residences amenities so owners have complete privacy if they wish to.

I recently sold a large 3 bedroom/3.5 bathroom residence in the building and was really impressed with the overall quality and feel of the building. The units are spacious with floor-to-ceiling windows throughout and have large wrap around terraces offering spectacular views of the ocean, bay and city. The kitchens are bright and open with top-of-the-line appliances and great countertop space. The bedrooms are large and have large walk-in closets.

Unlike most other oceanfront buildings in Miami, residents at One Bal Harbour are able to enjoy a semi-private beach due to the proximity of the Haulover Inlet to the north. Another great feature of this particular location is residents can watch the boats pass by and there is always action. This is a great contrast to the typical ocean setting, which can be very boring.

The amenities at One Bal Harbour are second to none and the building has multiple pools, a full service waterfront restaurant, private theatre room and a billiards room. The building has a 24hr concierge and has one of the most beautiful lobby's in Miami. If you are looking for a true luxury oceanfront building with an amazing location, you owe it to yourself to see One Bal Harbour. For more information about One Bal Harbour or to schedule a showing, please contact Josh Stein at 305-695-8257 or send me an email at jstein@majesticproperties.com

While it won’t necessarily change the Miami skyline, Filling Station Lofts is a project that will dramatically transform the west end of the Performing Arts District also known as Park West. The somewhat shady neighborhood west of Biscayne Blvd is currently home to Parc Lofts, one of the most successful loft projects ever built in Miami. Parc Lofts was developed by the Intrepid Group and was built in 2005. It is a true loft building and has an authentic urban feel to it.

Filling Station Lofts is the newest addition to the neighborhood and is located across the street from Parc Lofts. The building is also being developed by the Intrepid Group and sales have been very strong. Construction is well under way and the building has recently been topped off. Opening is scheduled for later this year.

I am particularly excited about this project because I think it will have a huge impact on the neighborhood. One of the problems I always come across when showing units at Parc lofts is the fact that there is nothing else in the vicinity. The area is dark and desolate and it’s not the safest place to walk around, if at all.

When people start moving into the Filling Station, I think we will see a lot more activity in the area. Hopefully the area will be lit up better, people will be going back and forth between the buildings and it will help to enhance the neighborhood. For more information on Filling Station Lofts, please visit my website.

A few days ago, I had the opportunity to tour Apogee South Beach. It was my first time in the building since it recently opened and Rosario and I were able take a quick video tour and shoot some decent photos. I have a client who is interested in the 04 line and was able to see two different layouts in this line, one of the 11th floor and the other on the 19th floor. Both of these units are over 4,100 Sq.Ft. and are located on the west corner of the building. They are HUGE with breathaking views from every room. Almost every wall is a floor-to-ceiling window, so you have spectacular views no matter where you are standing in the unit. The views are outrageous and include the Atlantic Ocean, Fisher Island, Biscayne Bay, Cruise Ship Alley, South Beach, Downtown Miami and all the Islands of Miami Beach.

Overall, the finishes were top notch and the kitchens and baths were almost identical to the renderings in the marketing materials. I couldn’t get over the enormous 11 feet deep terraces that wrapped around the entire unit. The kitchens had duplicate appliances and the cabinetry and countertops were of the highest quality. The bathrooms were zen-like and had a huge seamless glass shower complete with steam and rain shower. One of my favorite features was the sunken spa-like tub in the master bath.

The lobby was elegant and understated, although in my opinion it wasn’t as dramatic as the Setai. The infinifty pool and sundeck was also amazing and I especially liked the pods with daybeds that extended into the pool. The entire pool area seemed to have a very zen like feeling to it. Since this blog application on my website is not up to par, I can't add the video and photos here. All the photos are on the Apogee South Beach page of my website. I also added a video on my blog which you can view here.

For more information or a current price list, please call me. I have the most up-to-date price list available if you are interested.

During the last few years, Miami Beach has been at the forefront of luxury condos and high-end developments. One of the most notable changes to the Miami Beach real estate market is the introduction of luxury branded condos. The Setai. W South Beach. Mondrian. Ritz Carlton. These are just a few of the new branded condos that are changing Miami Beach.

Almost all of these new branded luxury condos are ultra-exclusive and ultra-expensive. The W hotel brand is associated with modern design and cool funky interiors. It is also associated with very pricey room rates. So when W South Beach announced they were building a luxury oceanfront condo, you can bet prices would be high.

For example, purchasing a studio suite in the new W South Beach will set you back around $1 million. That’s almost $2,000 Sq.Ft. What’s even more amazing is the fact that sales have continued to stay strong. The W South Beach offers a great condo hotel program and can help owners offset the cost of ownership. Combined with award-winning restaurants, nightclubs and amenities, the W South Beach is going to be an amazing place to live.

Another ultra-exclusive condo that continues to set records is the Setai Residences in South Beach. With prices starting at $1 million and 2 bedrooms priced well over $2.2 million, the Setai is arguably the most luxurious buildings in Miami. The amenities, the staff, the restaurant and even the bar are all to notch. The Setai has become synonymous with luxury and white glove service. After all, it is featured in magazines all over the world.

So what makes someone spend nearly $2.5 million on a small 2-bedroom condo? The answer is in the name. When someone buys a unit at Setai, they are not just buying into an ultra-luxury condo building; they are buying into the name. The Setai is the ultimate in luxury condos and hotels. From the 5 star hotel to the highly acclaimed restaurant, the Setai is the epitome of luxury living.

With all the negative press about the Miami Real Estate market, the luxury end of the market is doing very well. In fact, there have been more luxury sales in 2007 than in years past. For more information, visit my website.