SUNSET ISLAND 1: 1400 W 28 STREET, MIAMI BEACH, FL

It seems that the players in the wealthy sector of today’s market remain stubborn + liquid; generally I have seen a large gap in offers between buyer and seller. During the first two quarters of this year,  the resistance among sellers to reduce has prevailed at the top end. Consequently, 2009 delivered ONLY 3 residential sales in Dade County that closed over $10M; one of which was Shaq’s Miami Beach estate @ 26 Star Island-listed for $22.5M, closed in June for $16M.

Q3 2009 is revealing the drop in the market across the board. Reality is slowly penetrating the inventory of luxury waterfront residences. The property located at 1400 W 28 Street on Sunset Island 1 in Miami Beach just closed today for $9.5M. Purchased in 2006 by a Los Angeles hedge funder for $11.6M, it was listed in July 2008 for $15.9M. A distinct rally is underway for Miami Beach’s waterfront homes.

PROPERTY VITALS FOR 1400 W 28 STREET:

• Lot Size: 20,000 SF
• On the H2O: 100′
• Living Area: 9,933 SF
• 7 bed / 7.5 bath
• Built in 2003

With a keen eye for beauty and perfection, esteemed plastic surgeon, Leonard Hochstein conceived a 21st century Mediterranean style palazzo in Miami Beach. Completed in 2007, 1647 North View Drive is over the top opulent beginning with its point of entry, a 12′ door. Dr. Hochstein enlisted Simmons and Saray Interiors Group to assist in his vision: to create a residence that offers views of Biscayne Bay’s sparkling, tropical waters from every room (minus the 13-seat theater and service quarters).

Mission accomplished, this peaceful waterfront estate is located on the north side of Sunset Island 1, situated on a 22,580SF lot, it boasts 129′ of water frontage. The European influence is apparent throughout the 9,994SF interior. Elaborate appointments include:

• Illuminated 14′ diameter stained glass domed foyer
• Custom painted frescoes
• Venetian plastered walls
• Solid marble archways + columns
• Two master suites (one with red onyx master bath)
• Chefs kitchen
• Wine cellar
• Billiard room
• Gym
• Glass mosaic tiled infinity edged pool with underwater seating
• 4-car garage
• New dock

Sunset Island 2: 1727 W 27 Street Miami Beach, Florida

The sun is shining on Miami Beach this week, as yet another luxury waterfront home matches seller to buyer. Listed for $8.25M, 1727 W 27 Street just closed for $6M/$960SF. Listed just shy of one year in a down market (310 days to be exact), this sleek turnkey property located in Miami Beach’s exclusive neighborhood, Sunset Island 2, traded $200k less than it did in 2005. Currently there are 18 waterfront homes for sale on Sunset Islands 1, 2, 3, and 4.

To date, only one other waterfront property closed this year on the Sunset Islands. On and off the market since 2005, this Sunset Island 4 home, located at 1401 W 22 Street, closed for  $2.7M/$597SF. The deals, or should I say STEALS, are ripe for the picking!

VITALS ON 1727 W 27 STREET:

• Lot Size: 20,000 SF
• On the H2O: 100′
• Living Area: 6,244SF
• Built in 1984

Is rocker Lenny Kravitz going to ‘Fly Away,’ like the title of one of his hit songs, from Grammy Award winning album 5, suggests? Today, Kravitz listed his Miami Beach home located at 7936 Biscayne Point Circle for $2.85M. He purchased the property in 1997 for $725k.

Located on the tip of Biscayne Point, the peninsula just north of Normandy Island, Kravitz’s residence offers unobstructed views of Biscayne Bay, not to mention spectacular sunsets. Biscayne Point is a guard gated community located in the northern part of Miami Beach.

Property Highlights

• Lot Size: 12,150 SF
• Living Area: 5,717 SF
• Built in 1954

Not his first picnic in Miami Beach residential real estate, Kravitz sold his Sunset Island 2 home, 1800 W 25 Street, when the market was soaring in 2005 to developer Steve Muss for $14.5M. Kravitz purchased the property in 2001 for $8.9M.

Further adding his mark to South Florida, he launched a new business, Kravitz Design.  Maybe you have seen his work,  he is the creative behind the Delano Hotel’s ultra chic lounge, The Florida Room, which opened in December 2007. True to the music industry, Kravitz fused his new venture with his staple by designing a recording studio in the luxurious Miami Beach condo-hotel, Setai, that opened in 2008. A two-story penthouse, Setai Recording Studio (as it is know in the music world) offers 2,500 SF with state of the art equipment and inspiring views of the Atlantic Ocean.

At the 2005 MTV Music Awards, Kravitz proudly called Miami home, let’s hope he continues to spread more of his luster over our beautiful city.

1736 W 28 STREET, SUNSET ISLAND 1, MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 33140

Last weekend, the residence located on Sunset Island 1, at 1736 W 28 Street, was listed for $29,900,750. Seller, George Lindemann, Jr., purchased it in 2000 for $8.425M. Located in one of Miami Beach’s exclusive guard gated neighborhoods, this particular property occupies three point lots on the south western tip of  the island, offering panoramic views of Biscayne Bay, the Intracoastal Waterway and Downtown Miami. Built in 1936, the classic structure was designed by renowned twentieth century architect, Maurice Fatio.

Property Highlights

• Lot Size: 70,886 SF
• Living Area: 11,388 SF
• 5 bed,  5 bath , 2 half bath

I cannot help but compare this new listing to the sale of vacant land located at 2500 Bay Avenue on Sunset Island 2, which closed for $22M in October 2008.  This transaction was the second highest residential sale on Miami Beach. Not surprising, the property location is the ultimate, occupying 83,852 SF on the western tip of Sunset Island 2.

In case you are wondering,  the highest residential sale on Miami Beach was recorded in 2006  for the property located on Star Island at 10, 11 and 12 Star Island Drive. Lennar CEO and Director, Stuart Miller, purchased the property for $27M. Other residents of Star Island include Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, Gloria and Emilio Estefan and Shaquille O’Neal.

Is another record sale in the cards?

Aerial View: Sunset Islands, Miami Beach, Fl 33140

Current Back View: 1460 W 28 Street, Sunset Island 1, Miami Beach, FL 33140

Rendering/Back View: 1460 W 28 Street, Sunset Island 1, Miami Beach, FL 33140

Aerial Rendering: 1460 W 28 Street, Sunset Island 1, Miami Beach, Fl 33140

The Sunset Islands is an exclusive neighborhood of luxurious single family homes located in Miami Beach overlooking Biscayne Bay to the west. The community of both waterfront and non waterfront properties is comprised of four guarded islands located between 21st and 29 streets. Sunset Island 1 and 2 are accessible through 29 Street, west of North Bay Road. Entry to Sunset Islands 3 and 4 is at the southern most part of North Bay Road on 21st Street. The Sunset Islands attract a variety of  residents including celebrities, Anna Kournikova and boyfriend, Enrique Iglesias; South Beach Diet author Dr. Arthur Agaston; Miami Beach developer, Steve Muss who acquired his home from rockstar, Lenny Kravitz ; architect Chad Oppenheim; as well as many pillars in the community. Yachtsman seek out the The Sunset Islands as the location offers no fixed bridges, allowing larger vessels unrestricted access to the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean.

I just reduced the list price of 1460 W 28 Street, a waterfront home on Sunset Island I, from $4.395M to $3.99M. Prices have not been in this range since the early part of the Millennium. This particular property has an open floor plan, classic appointments and abundant natural light. The sellers have plans designed to construct a new home, however the current structure, built in 1947, is charming and beautifully maintained. Either way, the property is a bargain, where else in Miami Beach can one find a home on a guarded island, with 100FT of water frontage for less than $4M? Currently there are four waterfront properties offered for sale on Sunset Island 1. These homes are all located on the same street as 1460 W 28 Street, but the asking prices significantly exceed this property, ranging from $29.9M to $4.5M.

1460 W 28 Street: Property Highlights

• Lot Size: 20,000 SF
• Interior Living: 3,643 SF
• 100′ of water frontage
• Boat dock
• 4 bed / 3 bath
• 2-car garage
• No fixed bridges
• Plans for new home

2008 Closed Sales: Sunset Islands *

SUNSET ISLAND 1:

• 1525 North View Drive sold for $6.25M

SUNSET ISLAND 2:

• 1401 West 27 Street sold for $10M
• 1425 West 27 Street sold for $5.7M

SUNSET ISLAND 3:

• 2277 Sunset Drive sold for $4.6M**

*These four waterfront homes which sold on the Sunset Islands in 2008 had an average sale price of $877.19 SF

** I will take credit where it is due, this was my listing, and I sold it directly to the buyer