South Beach Condos Blog

It was a truly spectacular day here in Miami Beach.  I’d guess it was about 74 degrees, no humidity –perfect. I had just dropped my Italian clients off at the Delano Hotel and I hear fire sirens –lots of them.  I turn and look up and I see flames shooting from the roof of the newly opened Gansevoort South Beach.  I have no idea what caused the fire, but I do know that it was on the roof.  The Gansevoort has a pretty sexy roof “thing” going on; pool, bar, and members only, of course.  The fire looked more like it was coming from mechanical area of the roof.  I’ll watch the 11 o’clock news and see what happened.

The Gansevoort Hotel and Residences South Beach opened a few weeks ago and is located at 2301 Collins Avenue.  The hotel has 334 rooms and 259 residential condos.  The finished resort will have an outpost of the Meatpacking district’s STK steakhouse, and a David Barton Gym.

UPDATE:  I just received an e-mail from, I believe, the PR firm for the Gansevoort:

Hi Kevin, I saw your blog posting and wanted to update you on the fire at Gansevoort South Hotel, Spa and Residences yesterday. Here is the official statement from Robert Van Eerde, Managing Director of the hotel:“There was a small, contained fire on the unoccupied terrace at the penthouse level at Gansevoort South yesterday afternoon. The Fire Department responded immediately and extinguished the fire within 15 minutes. No one was injured and damages were minimal. The hotel is fully operational.

I’ve been thinking about the idea of having a regular post that highlights what I feel are really great real estate buys here in Miami Beach.  There is no exact science that goes into selecting them, just my intimate knowledge of each building and their respective values.

Miami Beach Condo Buys

ICON South Beach:  450 Alton Road #1601.  This is a three bedroom corner unit with southwest exposure.  It was reduced to $1.59M from $1.9M on 1.24.08.

Canyon Ranch Living Miami Beach Condo Hotel:  6801 Collins Avenue #C 404.  This direct oceanfront condo-hotel unit at $875K is a steal.  Most of the one bedroom condo-hotels NOT on the ocean are in this price range.

Green Diamond:  4775 Collins Avenue #1804.  2/2 + den has been converted to a three bedroom.  Two parking spaces.  Short-sale.  Need I go on?  $589K

1500 Ocean Drive:  1500 Ocean Drive #504.  Great unit with great ocean and Ocean Drive views in South Beach.  AAA building.  Bank-owned.  $1.2779M

La Gorce Palace:  6301 Collins Avenue #TS 7.  Penthouse-level unit (32nd floor) with 9 feet ceilings.  Beautifully updated.  Best value in oceanfront building.  $649K

Bath Club Miami Beach:  5959 Collins Avenue #1503.  3640 sq. ft. of luxury.  Priced very well for height of unit and view.  AAA building with spa-like amenities.  $2.399M

Finally, the wait is over.   Apogee South Beach, destined to become Miami’s most prestigious condominium, is here.  Closings began a few weeks ago and sources say that approximately 40 percent of the units are closed.

I’ve been looking forward for Apogee to be completed.  I recently toured the building with my clients and their design and architectural team.  During our conversation, a comparison was made between Apogee and a Park Avenue-type building.  The designer quickly responded “Park Avenue should be this nice.”  

The summer kitchen, a bare necessity

The master bath at Apogee South Beach.

Click here to view more pics of Apogee South Beach

Click here to view available condos for sale at Apogee South Beach at 800 South Pointe Drive, Miami Beach

I’ve done a round-up of all the short-sales, foreclosures, and bank-owned luxury condos in Miami Beach.  I’m sure there are more, but not all of these types of properties get listed in the MLS, which is what I’m using for my source.

First off, AQUA Allison Island Condos has four units available for sale:

1. 6103 Aqua Avenue #201 - 1/1.5, 1380 sf, $369,000
2. 6103 Aqua Avenue #901 - 4/4.5, 2766 sf, $1,200,000 (no balcony)
3. 6103 Aqua Avenue #704 - 3/3.5, 2203 sf, $970,000
4. 6103 Aqua Avenue #601 - 3/3.5, 2203 sf, $899,900

Next, Murano Grande in South Beach, has three condos listed for sale:

1. 400 Alton Road #2309 - 2/2, 1437 sf,  $874,900
2. 400 Alton Road #2209 - 2/2, 1437 sf, $850,000
3. 400 Alton Road #605 - 2/2, 1437 sf, $850,000

The Green Diamond Condo in Millionaires’ Row has two units:

1. 4775 Collins Avenue #1804 - 2/2 + den, 1550 sf, 2 parking spaces, $765,000
2. 4775 Collins Avenue #1505 - 2/2, 1380 sf, $750,000

Bel Aire on the Ocean in North Beach has one unit:

1. 6515 Collins Avenue #703 - 2/2, 1126 sf, $630,900 

6000 Indian Creek in Millionaires’ Row:

1. 6000 Indian Creek #1801 - 2/2, 1300 sf, $650,000  

Oceanside Plaza in Millionaires’ Row:

1. 5555 Collins Avenue #16Y - 2/2, 1350 sf, $470,000

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