Yesterday I had the chance to get a tour of Apogee South Beach. I have a client interested in the highly coveted “04″ line and was able to see two different layouts, one of the 11th floor and the other on the 19th floor. Both of these units are over 4,100 Sq.Ft. and are located on the southwest corner of the building. They are HUGE with breathaking views from every room. Almost every wall was a floor-to-ceiling window so you see nothing but blue water and the city skyline no matter where you are. Overall, the finishes were top notch and the kitchens and baths were almost identical to the renderings. I couldn’t get over the enormous 11′ deep terraces that wrapped around the entire unit.
The lobby was elegant, although in my opinion it wasn’t as dramatic as the Setai. The infinifty pool and sundeck was also amazing and I especially liked the pods with daybeds that extended into the pool. The entire pool area seemed to have a very zen like feeling to it.
I added a bunch of new Apogee photos to my website if you are interested in seeing more. I also will be posting a video soon.
During the last few years, Miami Beach has been at the forefront of luxury condos and high-end developments. One of the most notable changes to the Miami Beach real estate market is the introduction of luxury branded condos. The Setai. W South Beach. Mondrian. Ritz Carlton. These are just a few of the new branded condos that are changing Miami Beach.
Almost all of these new branded luxury condos are ultra-exclusive and ultra-expensive. The W hotel brand is associated with modern design and cool funky interiors. It is also associated with very pricey room rates. So when W South Beach announced they were building a luxury oceanfront condo, you can bet prices would be high.
For example, purchasing a studio suite in the new W South Beach will set you back around $1 million. That’s almost $2,000 Sq.Ft. What’s even more amazing is the fact that sales have continued to stay strong. The W South Beach offers a great condo hotel program and can help owners offset the cost of ownership. Combined with award-winning restaurants, nightclubs and amenities, the W South Beach is going to be an amazing place to live.
Another ultra-exclusive condo that continues to set records is the Setai Residences in South Beach. With prices starting at $1 million and 2 bedrooms priced well over $2.2 million, the Setai is arguably the most luxurious buildings in Miami. The amenities, the staff, the restaurant and even the bar are all to notch. The Setai has become synonymous with luxury and white glove service. After all, it is featured in magazines all over the world.
So what makes someone spend nearly $2.5 million on a small 2-bedroom condo? The answer is in the name. When someone buys a unit at Setai, they are not just buying into an ultra-luxury condo building; they are buying into the name. The Setai is the ultimate in luxury condos and hotels. From the 5 star hotel to the highly acclaimed restaurant, the Setai is the epitome of luxury living.
With all the negative press about the Miami Real Estate market, the luxury end of the market is doing very well. In fact, there have been more luxury sales in 2007 than in years past. For more information, visit my website.
During the last few months I have seen a dramatic change in the industry. Most real estate agents seem to be more stressed than usual and unsure what the future might bring. The reality is that the days of putting a listing up on the MLS and getting multiple offers has become a thing of the past. I know alot of realtors that have thrown in the towel and have already left the business for something more stable. Although I consider many of these people friends of mine, I am looking forward to a thinning out of the business. I think everyone agrees on this.
If your goal is to sell your listings or to market yourself to buyers, you need to get exposure. It’s amazing that so few agents embrace technolgy. From websites to blogs to social networking sites, the possibilites are endless. I think realtors tend to forget that it is called THE WORLD WIDE WEB. I have worked with buyers from all over the world and many of them have found me through the internet in some form or another. In fact, 2007 was my best year ever in my 5 years of working with Majestic Properties and I owe much of that success to technology.
I am not saying that as realtors we shouldn’t do any traditional advertising, but it is so important to mix the old with the new. I have never had much luck running print ads and always end up feeling like I just wasted alot of money. What’s really the point of spending $120 for a little photo and 2 lines of text that only local readers can see? Like most realtors, one of the only reasons I have ever ran a print ad was to make my seller happy.
What’s amazing to me is that so few agents actually take this approach. My guess is that in Miami alone there are no more than 10% of realtors who take advantage of the internet. It’s pretty easy to see this; simply google any Miami real estate term and the same 20 agents will show up. I spend a good portion of my day researching and finding new ways to market myself online. I truly enjoy doing this and it has become the bread and butter of my business. I am constantly learning about new websites, uploading properties and reading and writing on blogs. I have acquired so much great information over the past few years from reading other realtors blogs and websites.
Over the course of the next few years we are going to see a big transition take place between technology driven realtors and the traditional realtors. The real estate agents who have embraced technology are going to be light years ahead of everyone else and will have the real advantage. This is not just true for the search engines, but also for gaining readership and the overall trust as being a leader in the industry. For more information about Josh Stein please visit my website.
The most luxurious luxury Miami Beach condominium has opened it’s doors. Located at the southernmost part of South Beach, Apogee is the epitome of luxury living. Apogee South Beach is only 22 stories high and has just 67 residences. Each of the spacious flow-through units have views of Biscayne Bay, the Atlantic Ocean and the downtown Miami skyline.
This ultra-modern new loft project is located in the heart of South Beach and is one of the latest new developments to be completed in the Flamingo Park neighborhood. As the name suggests, the project consists of seven 2 bedroom/2.5 bath tri-level townhomes, each featuring 28′ ceilings, private rooftop terraces and luxury finishes. With private entrances for each unit and secure indoor parking, Seven Townhomes is a great new approach to loft living in South Beach.
It’s refreshing to see something a little different and unique come available in the marketplace. With so many highrise condos and small art deco buildings being converted, this is really a nice change. The building is small, but has a very sophisticated feel. The project is also getting a new security gate and intercom system which will help to keep it private and secure.
The building was designed by Beilinson-Gomez and developed by Robert Boykiw has won numerous awards for its unique architecture and cutting-edge design. The project just won the BASF award for best exterior architecture for a small project under 10 units.
Seven Townhomes is available for immediate occupany. Four of the seven units have been sold or are under contract and the remaining three units are priced from $499k – $889k. For more information, please visit www.734michigan.com or www.joshsteinrealtor.com.
