The information resource for Luxury Oceanfront Condominiums in Miami, Sunny Isles, Bal Harbour, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton and Palm Beach. (954) 632 3266

You betcha !

In the last 30 days 59 oceanfront condos went to contract in Miami.  In Fort Lauderdale (Broward County) 55 oceanfront condos sold.  Interestingly, they span the price spectrum. The most expensive unit to go to contract in the last 30 days was a 5 bedroom unit on Fisher Island that was listed for $12,900,000.  The lowest priced unit was in the hundred thousands.

Here are some specific examples of what oceanfront condos went to contract within the last 30 days.

MIAMI

Bellini- 10225 Collins Avenue-Bal Harour- A double unit over 7600 square feet.- 5 bedrooms 6 and one half baths

• Highest Asking price $7,695,000 $1007 per square foot (this is a very unique spectacular space in Bal Harbour)
• Asking Price Now:  $4,999,999   $654 per square foot
• Price Reduction: 35%
• Days on Market 197 

The Continuum South Tower- 100 S. Point Drive- Miami Beach- 1870 square feet 2 bedroom 2 bath

• Highest Asking price $2,500,000 $1336 per square foot
• Asking Price Now:  $1,800,000   $962 per square foot
• Price Reduction: 28%
• Days on Market 97

The Akoya- 6365 Collins Avenue- Miami Beach- 808 square feet 1 bedroom 1 bath

• Highest Asking price $564,900 $699 per square foot
• Asking Price Now:  $379,900   $470 per square foot
• Price Reduction: 32%
• Days on Market 41

• Highest Asking price $545,000 $347 per square foot
• Asking Price Now:  $530,000  $337 per square foot
• Price Reduction: 3% ( Priced Aggressively)
• Days on Market 94

We wanted to provide our readers with a concrete look at specific buildings in today’s the market. We have selected Ocean Palms, Diplomat Residences, Beach Club1,  Beach Club 2, Beach Club 3, and Villas of Positano in Hollywood.  

Each one of the buildings we selected have their own very specific characteristics.  Beach Club is of course the largest with a total of over 1,200 units whereas Villas of Positano only has a total of only 65 units.  

Ocean Palms has the lowest percentage of units on the market.   Diplomat Residences has the highest, 26% of the total building on the market.  

The closed sales data is based on the past 6 months.  The lowest closed price per square foot was at the Beach Club at $252 per square foot and surprisingly followed by the  Diplomat Residences at $253.   Not surprisingly the lowest sale price was at the Beach Club. 

South Florida newer condominiums have been averaging around 20% of the building on the market for the past year.  That number hasn’t increased in fact, as I mentioned in a previous post, inventory numbers appear to be on the decline.  

Several large scale investors such as Jorge Perez and others are stepping in to take advantage of current market conditions and attractive prices.  Real estate will have its ups and downs but unlike paper investments….it will not evaporate !

 

 

 

 

 

 

According to the Wall Street Journal Wealth Report,  a survey of high net worth individuals say they are cutting back for fear of what the future might bring.  Categories hardest hit will be SUV’s, jewelry, handbags, leather goods and private jet usage.

The Silver Lining: Real Estate.  The survey found that three quarters of the respondents cited real-state as  ”an opportunity”, compared with about a quarter who cited it as a “risk”.

30% are in the market to acquire real estate this year.

In another Wall Street Journal article, “Is Now A Good Time to Buy a Home?”

Their answer is, yes if you ……

• have access to credit
• have fat cash reserves
• aren’t already over-exposed to real estate
• expect to hold the proerty for at least two years…

Then now is an excellent time to buy!!!

With the economic news of late, I was wondering how the data looked in the Miami and Fort Lauderdale oceanfront condo market for the last 30 days.   There is plenty of activity out there.  Furthermore, overall inventory numbers are on the decline.   

In the past 30 days…..

Broward County (Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Hallandale, Pompano, etc.)

• 55 oceanfront condos went  to contract (pending) 
• 63 Closed Sales
• Closed sales are on average at 88% of asking price

Dade County (Sunny Isles, Bal Harbour, Miami Beach, etc..)

• 56 oceanfront condos went to contract (pending)
• 62 Closed Sales
• Closed sales on average are at 90% of asking price

What can you buy for $1 million if you were looking for an oceanfront condo in Miami or Fort Lauderdale?  You can get a lot more for your money than you could have a year ago!  Over the past year, with the current market situation, we have certainly seen price reductions.   

Here is what you can buy for $1 million if you were looking for an oceanfront condo in Miami and in Fort Lauderdale:

Miami

The Bath Club- 5959 Collins Avenue

Asking Price $1,017,000

Price Per Sq.Ft.  $534

1,904 Square Feet under air

2 bedrooms 2 baths

VIews of the ocean, bay and city

The Bath Club was built in 2005 and has a total of 107 units.  Currently there are 21 units on the market out of 107 units. In the current market, 19% of units for sale.  Prices range from $485 square foot to over $1300 square foot for the penthouse. This unit was originally listed for $1,675,000.

The Mosaic- 3801 Collins Ave

Asking Price $999,900

Price Per Sq. Ft: $663

1,507 Square Feet under air

3 bedrooms 3 baths

Views of the ocean, bay and city

The Mosaic was built in 2006 and has a total of just 91 units.  Currently there are 27 units on the market, 32% of the building.  Prices offered in this bulding range from $484 sq.ft. to over $1400 per sq. ft. Original list price $1,150,000

Canyon Ranch-6801 Collins Ave.

Asking Price $1,095,000

Price Per Sq.Ft. $901

1,215 Square Feet under air

2 bedrooms 2 baths

Direct ocean east views

Canyon Ranch Living has 3 towers North, South and the center, Carillon.  We have several listings in this building and it is one of my favorite projects in South Florida.  As we have writen before, Canyon Ranch offers a complete lifestyle, so much more than just an oceanfront condo with amenities.  The 70,000 sq ft. spa will be opening soon and closings are still under way.  Original list price $1,199,000

 

Fort Lauderdale

L’Ambiance-4240 Galt Ocean Drive 

Asking Price $1,049,000

Price Per Sq.Ft. $456

2,318 Square Feet under air

3 bedrooms 2 and one half baths

Direct ocean views

L’Ambiance was built in 2003 and is very well established building.  There are only 13 units on the market out of 124, 10%.   This unit was priced at one point at $1,449,000.  Prices int his building run from $462 sq.ft. to $842 sq. ft. Original list price $1,449,000.

Aquazul- 1600 S. Ocean Drive- Lauderdale by the Sea

Asking Price $999,000

Price Per Sq.Ft. $388

2,572 Square Feet under air

3 bedrooms 4 and one half baths

Flow through unit with east and west views

The Aquazul has total of 80 units and there are only 8 units on the market.  The floor plans are very spacious and flow through with wonderful views east and west.  Prices in this building range from$388 sq.ft. to $615 sq.ft.  Original list price $1,400,000.

 

Las Olas Beach Club- 101 S. Ft. Lauderdale Beach

 

Asking Price $1,079,000

Price Per Sq.Ft. $454

2,372 Square Feet under air

3 bedrooms 3 baths

Direct ocean views with a flow through floor plan offering west views as well

Las Olas Beach Club was built in 2007 and has a total of 148 units.  Currently there are 42 units on the market, 28%.  Prices range from $393 sq.ft. to $1134 sq.ft. Las Olas Beach club is located in Fort Lauderdale. The building sits across the street from the ocean.  Original list price $1,159,000.

 

Turnberry Ocean Colony

Through my research I come across “break out” properties. I call these South Florida Oceanfront properties “break out” properties because they stand out from the inventory.  Certain properties that I identify are very  unique and presents attractive buying opportunities.

Criteria that I analyze that makes these “break out” properties unique can include some or all of the following:

Building Quality & Amenities

• View
• Square footage
• Number of bedrooms
• Price per square foot
• Price
• Comparables
• Location
• Uniqueness

 

I have found that when I have identified these properties, they always sell rather quickly. So even though the Average Days on the Market for most waterfront condos is about 156 days, these opportunities sell considerably quicker than that.

Here is an example. Most recently, at the Diplomat Residences in Hollywood, there was a 3,000 square foot direct oceanfront unit that was being offered for $1,199,000 on a high floor.  We can pretty much assume that it sold for less than asking price. Comparable units were going for $1.9 million a year ago.  This particular unit has gone to contract.  The next somewhat comparable unit is being offered today for $1.5 million.

I have identified “break out” opportunities in several extraordinary buildings, including Ocean Palms, Turnberry Ocean Colony, One Bal Harbour and  the Continuum in South Beach just to name a few.  They are out there!

This is such an exciting time for the oceanfront condo market!

As reported in the Sun-Sentinel, the W Fort Lauderdale will feature the first Bliss Spa in Florida. The upscale spa founded in 1996 has nine locations including New York City, San Francisco and London. Its beauty products are found at 23 W hotels. The 517 room W Fort Lauderdale is set to open this fall.

We are seeing more and more of a presence of upscale spa and wellness facilities at condos and condo hotels in Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Buyers of oceanfront condos are looking for the next level of amenities and they are getting it!

The economy and housing situation has been very well documented in all forms of the media. However, Many people see this as a time of opportunity, especially in the luxury oceanfront condo market.

In the luxury oceanfront condo market in a first class building, there have been some incredible opportunities. We recently worked with a buyer at the Diplomat in Hollywood and were able to negotiate an oceanfront condo at an incredible price. This was a high floor direct ocean views. Regardless of what the market does over the next few months, this was a great deal.

There are some very shrewd buyers out there taking advantage of spectacular opportunities.

At this point in time, I wanted to take a look at pending contracts in south Florida in Miami, Bal Harbour, Sunny Isles, Hollywood, Hallandale, and Fort Lauderdale. There are 55 luxury oceanfront condos listed above $1million under contract. There are buyer’s out there seizing the moment…….

Here is a list of oceanfront condo’s over $1million under contract as of today, July 30, 2008:

As, reported by the Wall Street Journal, a growing number of rich Russians are house-shopping and buying in costly U.S. enclaves. The WSJ states, the “Miami area in particular is drawing Russians with its upscale shopping, hip nightlife and an escape from Moscow’s harsh winters.”

Donald Trump;s $100 million mansion in Palm Beach was recently purchased by fertilizer mogul Dmitry Rybolovlev.

South Florida attracts second, third and fourth home buyers from around the world.  Visitors to blogsouthflorida.com come from every country imaginable.

As we come to the end of June, a 6 month marker for the year, we thought it would be a good time to take a look at the data. We pulled statistical data for Miami Beach, Bal Harbour, Sunny Isles, Hollywood-Hallandale, and Fort Lauderdale (which includes Lauderdale by the Sea and Pompano Beach). Each city has its own statistical identity which you will see in the charts.

We used the following criteria for the data:

• Oceanfront Condo
• Built after 2002
• Units with over 1500 square feet under air
• Minimum of 2 bedrooms

We are looking at average asking price, average closed sale price, average percentage sold to asking price and the number of condo sales with this criteria. This information was sourced from the MLS of South Florida.

On average, Miami Beach commands the highest price per square foot.

Bal Harbour, a much smaller geographic area has the highest percentage of selling to asking price. Sellers are less negotiable.

Sunny Isles had the highest number of closed sales. Sunny Isles also has a dense concentration of relatively new oceanfront condos built after 2002.

You can see that Hollywood and Hallandale offer the best prices per square foot.

Fort Lauderdale does not have that many newer oceanfront condos.

A footnote to add, there is always a delay of reporting on closed sales so additional closed sales data for June is expected.