Miami Real Estate

At 500 Brickell (in up-and-coming  Brickell area of Miami) you can find some rather compellingly priced condos … as the developer is very close to selling out.  NEW CONSTRUCTION:

1 bedroom units:  $248,900 up

2 bedroom units:  $344,000 up

3 bedroom units:  $487,000 up

Apart from the competitive pricing  (which in and of itself  makes the building worth taking a look at) …  Read the rest of this entry »

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Modeled after the Maoi structures of Easter Island and with lobbies designed by Phillipe Starck,  the Icon is a magnificent building in Brickell. There are three buildings which make up the complex, with 22 foot ceilings in the lobby areas, and arrival areas for all three towers (which include a drop off area).

The 2-acre pool terrace is located about 100 feet above the ground and features three infinity edge pools including a reflection pool, and oversized thermal hot tub and an Olympic sized lap pool. The pool deck has a full service restaurant and a pool side cafe. Luxurious amenities such as a la carte drink and food service and wine tastings. This area overlooks beautiful Biscayne Bay.

With direct views of Biscayne Bay, the spa and fitness center has a large cardio and free weight center as well as yoga, aerobics, pilates and spinning facilities. The spa features his and hers treatment rooms, lounges, eucalyptus steam rooms and redwood saunas. There’s also a large plunge pool area.

There are 5 places to eat in the Icon. The Pool side Cafe, the Viceroy Signature Restaurant, two bayside restaurants at the lobby level and Club 50. Club 50 is also Icon’s rooftop pool and lounge with amazing views from the 50th floor. It features designs by Kelly Wearstler and provides patrons with light dining, drinks and a sophisticated atmosphere.

The building features a dock for residents and visitors to moor their boats as well as smart technology in all the residences. There’s a full time concierge staff and a 24-hour valet.

If you would like more information on this fabulous building, or would like to see it, contact the Restivo Team here.

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One benefit to buying a Miami condo in a well-established building is having  added space …  space that  is often missing in  newer high-rises.

While Miami  is unquestionably known for it’s  spanking new construction,  our ever changing skyline of both  pre-construction and  brand new buildings offers  some  older gems too… (spacious alternatives) …  all along the coastline.   Read the rest of this entry »

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In the 1870’s, pioneers William and Mary Brickell maintained a trading outpost in the area that has now become today’s Brickell.  In their trading outpost days, Mary envisioned luxurious waterfront estates… which were built… but have  since pretty much given way to a new face of  Brickell :  highrise office towers and luxury condominiums.  Brickell has become quite a different picture in recent years. Read the rest of this entry »

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Italian buyer-clients,  returning to Miami  on vacation next week, will settle in to their posh Brickell vacation home … a  two bedroom condominium towering over Biscayne Bay, for the first time since closing.  After a month of interior decorators and design experts, electronic blind and custom drapery installations,  marble installation covering their terrace overlooking  Miami’s waterfront … they are coming  ‘home’ to Miami not to shop for property, but to enjoy the one they just bought.

Brickell has a particular  Read the rest of this entry »

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Not a bad track record…   Ugo Colombo’s highrises still rank among the very top of Miami’s most desirable condos. 

The Santa Maria, built in 1997,  as of right now, has list prices averaging  $702 / square foot in the MLS … despite foreclosures  Read the rest of this entry »

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You asked about  condo opportunities available now on Brickell?  After my blog on The Best Selling Condos on Brickell I received a slew of inquiries regarding pricing/availability of two-bedroom units in The Plaza on Brickell.  For better or worse,  inventory throughout Miami’s  myriad of condo buildings changes  literally by the minute.  That said, as of this writing,  there are still 7  (in my opinion stunning!) water view two-bedrooms available in The Plaza, ranging in price from $409,900 to $629,900 (and ranging in size from 1054 - 1400 square feet).  Every single unit above the the 41st floor is what’s called a  “Sky Residence”,  with upgrades beyond what you’ll find from the 41st floor, down.     Half of the currently available 2 bedroom waterfront units fall into the “Sky Residence” category ( with high ceilings!) and a number of them have views  that are quite dramatic.  Currently the developer is entertaining discounts in the range of 6% -10%  (depending on whether you are financing/or paying cash).  The Plaza is Fannie Mae approved, which means you can get lender financing.  Looking for a waterfront condo on Brickell?  This may be the time to buy!  If you are interested in buying or selling property in Miami, please give me a call at (305) 793-1365 or send me a note here.  Receive my blog posts directly to your inbox.   Stay current with all the Miami real estate information …  subscribe here.

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A charming 1 bedroom / 1 bathroom condo is available for sale! Asking $130,000 in the stunning Brickell area, this unit features 7th floor views of the Miami River. Double balcony off Living Room / Kitchen / Bedroom. Loft-like. Washer and Dryer in the unit. Upgraded. Brickell nightlife and restaurants at your footsteps. One of the lowest prices in the building…Do not miss out on this fantastic opportunity!

Click here to see a brochure and contact Vicki or Alexandra with any questions!

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EWM’s Blog has a wealth of information on not only  Miami Real Estate Market trends, but specific listings, statistics, market trends and conditions, neighborhood information, community insight, restaurant reviews, and “Just for Fun!” As reported  by MiamiRealEstateCafe.com through EWM’s Blog, Mary Brickell Village has opened a WHOLE  SLEW of absolutely lovely dining spots…  Oceanaire (elegant surroundings and scrumptious  fresh fish) …  Rosa Mexicano (to-die-for frozen-margaritas  with pomegranate juice…   heavenly guacamole concocted table side!)…  Blu’  Pizza e Cucina (umbrella-covered outdoor courtyard setting with Mediterranean fare and thin,crusty wood-burning  pizza:  ”two-for-one” each Tuesday).   Read more  in an article published by Miami.com about Blu‘! And if you want to search for restaurants, or make reservations online,  I just  stumbled across  an online service for reserving tables at fabulous  restaurants  throughout Miami:  It may be old news to some of you, but  it’s worth sharing:  OpenTable.com Which are  your favorite dining spots in Miami ?  (Brickell  restaurants … or elsewhere in Miami! )  We’d love to uncover more!

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A few condo buildings on Brickell seem to intrigue buyers more than others.   International buyers gravitate toward a handful  that epitomize the ‘dream’ of living IN MIAMI,  and  South Florida’s sunny, easygoing  lifestyle.  One that  appeals BIG TIME to foreign buyers is THE PLAZA ON BRICKELL .  The Plaza is actually two towers: 951 Brickell Avenue  and 950 Brickell Bay Drive. (The two towers are also somewhat confusingly referred to  as #851 and #901,  from  recent pre-construction days, before  the US Postal Service changed the “original” street addresses.  You’ll  occasionally  find  listings on  Realtor.com, or through the MLS, or other websites – condos listed currently for sale or for lease -  referencing  those old street numbers. ) 

Brickell (literally overnight) became Miami’s  “in”  place to own a condo …  in large part due to the addition of Mary Brickell Village , which added charm and infrastructure to the area, and made Brickell come alive!   Read more about Mary Brickell Village here.

The PLAZA ON BRICKELL  has breathtaking night views (waterfront  mixed with city-lights),  spacious balconies and  sleek design.  There are (as of this date) still a handful of one-bedroom units with  striking views (water, city and pool) priced between $276,000.00 and $355,000.00 including a lovely 847 square foot unit on the 43rd floor.  Realize that you are looking at an additional 6%-12% percent below the current prices I’ve quoted above.  The developer is selling out the last of the units, and making for some interesting buyer opportunities  at below the  original preconstruction pricing.   Give us a call if you’re interested in buying one of the units in The Plaza… Contact us by email at restivo.v@ewm.com … or respond via our blog here at MiamiRealEstateCafe.com.

The two  “Plaza” towers are veritable   “eye-candy” … especially for  foreign buyers …  a ’sweet deal’.   I’m intrigued  though that  less than 20%  of the building was purchased (thus far) as income property (to be rented out) …   Buyers seem to be purchasing condos in The Plaza on Brickell as their primary residence,  or alternatively as a second home/vacation property. 

Of the 560 units in  Tower #851:   389 have closed so far, and 32 others are under contract.  There are 139 units left to be sold, as of now.    

Of the 440 condos in Tower #901,   392 have closed and 12 more are currently under contract, leaving 36 available for purchase.  

Statistics for  owner occupied units/vacation homes/ and investment property in The Plaza On Brickell are worth noting:  58% are owner occupied, and 23% are vacation or second homes, and 19%  were acquired  by investors for rental purposes.  Fannie Mae approval is expected  within the next two to three weeks.   You are invited to contact us for updates.

Please add your thoughts or insights regarding Brickell, it’s infrastructure, condo purchases or opportunities.   Your input to the MiamiRealEstateCafe Blog is MORE than  welcome!

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