MIAMI BEACH, the small universe where I conduct business, the high end properties with the best addresses sold briskly during the first quarter of this year.  Five sales were recorded just on Star Island during the past two months, three of which closed over $10,000,000.  A record high of $25,500,000 was fetched for 13 Star Island Drive. Yes: inventories are dissipating, multiple offers are being received and nobody is building anew (yet).

SINGLE FAMILY HOMES

Lower North Bay Road, below 31st Street, has also been a HOTSPOT, with five homes going under contract or closing recently.  Most of these properties were bought with the intent to re-model or tear down for new construction by end users. Former Miami Heat center, Rony Seikaly’s, home is the exception, it traded in turnkey condition in December 2010 for $11,500,000. Today, 3114 North Bay Road is the only waterfront home available. Asking $4,500,000, the sellers are close to being permitted for a complete rebuild, which is motivating them to take it off the market temporarily, construct and re list a brand new modern home for $15,000,000.

CONDOS

The Miami Beach condo market is also thriving with inventories down and prices on the rise.  The ‘sun seekers’ have stayed in the game purchasing ocean and bay front units in the primest buildings including the South of Fifth and the Collins Park neighborhoods. Apogee, the youngest tower South of Fifth,  just unloaded one of its three penthouses for $11,500,000.  Originally listed for $22,000,000, this is a significant transaction for the Miami Beach condo market despite the incredible discount. A four bedroom, direct ocean front unit closed two weeks ago for $10,500,000 in the south tower of the Continuum. I sold a pied-a-terre at the Setai in March for $2,200psf, that’s a weighty number.

The buyer’s are international and domestic alike.  They realize that the market bottom has been reached and Miami Beach is a world class resort offering the best values in the United States if not globally. The price is right, the weather’s great, beautiful beaches and a growing sophistication!

PRIVATE ROOFTOP POOL: APOGEE PH A/800 SOUTH POINTE DRIVE MIAMI BEACH, FL

Apogee, as its name suggests, is the benchmark for luxury condo living in South Beach. Completed in 2008, the contemporary building is comprised of 67 residences ranging in size from 3,000SF to almost 7,000SF.  Located on 2.88 acres at the tip of the island in the South of Fifth neighborhood, Apogee was developed by the Related Group of Florida and designed by the Sieger Suarez Architectural Partnership. Elegantly conceived, each residence has ultra finishes by Yabu Pushelburg, Fanke, Miele and Dombracht as well as breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean, Biscayne Bay, South Pointe Park, the Port of Miami or Miami’s skyline.

One of Apogee’s three penthouses was listed for sale in July 2008 for $22M. Today, Penthouse A, like most real estate listings, was reduced to $18.5M. This year, several penthouses have sold as a result of price reductions in South Beach including units in Il Villaggio and Continuum I. In addition to PH A, there are 18 units currently offered for sale in Apogee.

PROPERTY HIGHLIGHTS:

• 6,853SF living space (under air)
• 6 bed, 7 1/2 bath
• 11,000SF of outdoor space (terrace and balcony)
• Private rooftop pool
• Private elevator
• Private air conditioned 2 1/2 car garage
• 22′ ceilings
• Tri-level (two floors of under air living space)
• Summer Kitchen
• 360-degree panoramic views

Images of Apogee:

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FRONT FACADE: 6050 NORTH BAY ROAD, MIAMI BEACH, FL

One of my clients, like many buyers today, was having an identity crisis. Who was he, an owner or a renter? Until last week, he was a SIDELINER, a browser looking for a deal in the Miami Beach real estate market. He was on the verge of leasing a unit at the Continuum I on South Beach, when I introduced him to a mid century modern house at 6050 North Bay Road. This property was on the market for less than two weeks, my client recognized the opportunity I presented him with and jumped on it! Calculating the numbers, he concluded it was more cost effective to maintain the house than spend $10,000 a month renting a 2/2 in the Continuum I. Built in 1951, 6050 North Bay Road sits on a lot just under 20,000 SF with 77 FT of water frontage, unobstructed views of Biscayne Bay and a spacious interior with over 4,000 SF. Next door neighbor, Oscar Award winning movie star Matt Damon, paid $4.2M in December 2005 for virtually the same size lot, although the house was a tear down. Damon’s primary residence was acquired in April 2005 for $10.3M.

INTERIOR: 6050 NORTH BAY ROAD, MIAMI BEACH, FL

VIEW OF BISCAYNE BAY: 6050 NORTH BAY ROAD, MIAMI BEACH, FL

Miami Beach Luxury Waterfront Homes for Sale

Currently, there are 17 luxury waterfront properties for sale on Miami Beach’s North Bay Road with an average asking price of approximately $1,400 SF. In 2008, 10 waterfront homes sold on North Bay Road with an average price of $1,100 SF, and they are as follows:

1. 5790 North Bay Road sold for $16.75M
2. 5050 North Bay Road sold for $13.1M
3. 4420 North Bay Road sold for $9M
4. 5396 North Bay Road sold for $6.8M
5. 6380 North Bay Road sold for $5.6M
6. 2012 North Bay Road sold for $5.4M
7. 6410 North Bay Road sold for $5M
8. 6010 North Bay Road sold for $4.6M
9. 2040 North Bay Road sold for $4.1M
10. 5004 North Bay Road sold for $3.075M

You do the math, seems my client scored receiving a $1M rebate, paying $798SF or $3.2M for 6050 North Bay Road.