IconBrickell Pool Officially Closing on December 5th Posted on November 23, 2016November 23, 2016 by Michael Light The famed pool deck at IconBrickell will officially be closing on Monday, December 5th, 2016 for approximately 12 months to fix all necessary repairs, unfortunately leaving residents with no other pool option. Despite speculation for months now about when exactly the pool deck at Icon will be closing (we reported on the closing and special assessment back in March), the IconBrickell Master Association sent out an email late last night to unit owners regarding specific details about the pool deck project. Please see below for the verbatim email from the condo association. [First and foremost, the iconbrickell master association would like thank the entire community for their engagement and participation during the initial phase of our pool deck project. By now, you may have already noticed some initial staging going on in various locations around the pool deck in anticipation of the full closing scheduled to take place on Monday, December 5th, 2016. With that in mind, we have received several inquiries concerning the use of other pool locations. Due to limited pool alternatives and associated costs, other options were not financially viable. The Master Association Board, working with our construction partners will make every effort to ensure our new pool deck is opened within the 12 month plan for completion. Thank you for your understanding and patience. We remain committed keeping you up-to-date on the progress of the project. Sincerely, iconbrickell Master Association] Attention Long-Term Condo Investors If you are a long-term condo investor, NOW is the time to buy a condo at IconBrickell. Why…because current owners that need to sell their units at IconBrickell, for reasons unrelated to the closing of the pool deck, have had to dump their prices to sell their units since the pool is what Icon is famous for. However, when the pool deck is completely remodeled and finished in about 1 year, the value of IconBrickell condos will go back up to where they were prior. Think about it…this is the time to buy at IconBrickell…buy low/sell high! If you are interested in purchasing a condo at IconBrickell in Greater Downtown Miami, please contact Michael Light. You may reach Michael on his cell at (786) 566-1700 or via email at michael@miamiluxuryhomes.com. Icon Brickell
Take a Peek Inside the Newly-Opened Brickell City Centre Posted on November 5, 2016 by Michael Light Brickell City Centre opened its doors to the public on Thursday, November 3 after 4 long years of construction. The 3-level open-air shopping center with the one-of-a-kind $30 Million Climate Ribbon encompasses 565,000 square feet of retail space anchored by a 107,000-square-foot Saks Fifth Avenue and an ultra-luxe movie theater, Cinemex. Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony at Brickell City Centre Brickell City Centre’s Famous Climate Ribbon Currently, 92% of the retail space has been leased at Brickell City Centre, according to Curbed Miami and includes such tenants as Cole Haan, Ted Baker London, Victoria’s Secret, Lulu Lemon Athletica and Zara. Click Here for a full list of retailers in Brickell City Centre. The $1.05 Billion mega-mixed-use project developed by Swire Properties includes a theme of a live, work, play-type urban center, which seems to be a perfect fit for the core of Downtown Miami. Brickell City Centre offers 2 residential condo towers dubbed Reach and Rise, EAST Miami hotel that opened in May of this year, 2 office buildings and of course the premium retail shopping center and restaurants. Brickell City Centre is truly a much-needed project that is a first for Miami and has been a key factor in the transformation of Downtown Miami. President of Swire Properties, Stephen Owens said that “Brickell City Centre is certainly a first for Miami and will inevitably solidify the city as a true world-class destination. What we’ve done here is unique; there’s no handbook or manual for it because it hasn’t been done before.” Stephen went on to say “we have carefully created a vertical shopping experience that is very urban in its design, with many firsts and many internationally-recognized retailers. I feel privileged to finally share with the world what we felt was always missing in Brickell, a destination.” If you would like more information about Brickell City Centre, or are interested in purchasing a luxury condo at the Reach or Rise towers at Brickell City Centre, please contact Michael Light of Douglas Elliman. You may reach Michael at (786) 566-1700 or via email at michael@miamiluxuryhomes.com. Brickell City Centre Mall Brickell City Centre Mall
Hurricane Matthew Spares Miami…South Florida Extremely Fortunate Posted on October 8, 2016 by Michael Light Although Miami received heavy winds and rain, as a result of Hurricane Matthew, we were extremely fortunate that the hurricane missed Miami and the rest of South Florida. Miamians were very blessed to have not sustained any major damage, but other parts of the world have been, and continue to be, deeply affected with catastrophic conditions. Our hearts and prayers continue to go out to all of the people affected by the tragic devastation caused by Hurricane Matthew.
Miami Luxury Homes Launches News & Media Page Posted on September 16, 2016 by Michael Light Miami Luxury Homes has recently added a News & Media Page to our premier Miami luxury real estate website. The page will highlight news outlets that have featured Miami Luxury Homes and/or Michael Light in their news. Major news outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, The Real Deal and Curbed rely on Michael Light, founder and owner of Miami Luxury Homes and Director of Luxury Sales at Douglas Elliman, as a trustworthy source for real estate news in and around Miami. Click Here to see Miami Luxury Homes in the News! If you see something interesting that you would like to share with us, please email us at info@miamiluxuryhomes.com. If we find it newsworthy, me may publish an article about it!
Record-Breaking $8.6M Penthouse Sold at Edgewater’s Biscayne Beach Posted on August 27, 2016 by Michael Light A wealthy Turkish buyer just set a record for the Edgewater neighborhood of Miami by purchasing a luxury penthouse at Biscayne Beach for a whopping $8.6 Million. This record-breaking, 2-story penthouse at Biscayne Beach features a private rooftop sky terrace with a pool and an outdoor kitchen and apparently the buyer replicated the master bathroom to create a 2nd master suite, according to the WSJ. It seems that affluent Turkish buyers are flocking to Miami’s luxury condo market, most probably viewing it as a much more stable investment as opposed to their usual vacation homes in South of France and London, according to the WSJ. And, why not, Miami offers everything that affluent people want and demand in a second, third or fourth home… tropical weather, beautiful beaches, restaurants with world-renowned chefs, world-class shopping and chic and sophisticated luxury real estate! Biscayne Beach Penthouse Living Room Biscayne Beach Penthouse Bathroom About Biscayne Beach Situated bayfront in Edgewater, one of Miami’s hottest new neighborhoods, Biscayne Beach is a 51-story residential condo tower offering 399 chic, sophisticated residences beautifully designed by famed celebrity designer Thom Filicia offering contemporary kitchens with Snaidero cabinetry and premium Miele appliances and elegant spa-like bathrooms. Biscayne Beach also offers residents exceptional amenities including a members-only bayside beach club offering a bayfront, L-shaped pool, manmade “sandy” beach and lounging area with cabanas, chaise lounges and day beds, state-of-the-art fitness center overlooking Biscayne Bay, tennis courts, spa with private treatment rooms, business center, a residents-only dog park and much more. Biscayne Beach is estimated for completion in December of this year (2016). If you, or someone you know, are interested in purchasing a luxury condo at Biscayne Beach, you are out of luck as the project is sold out. If you are interested in any other projects in Miami, please contact Michael Light. You may reach me directly at my office at (305) 350-9842, on my cell at (786) 566-1700 or via email at michael@miamiluxuryhomes.com. Biscayne Beach Biscayne Beach Bayfront Pool
FAA Loosens Drone Rules—Good for Miami Real Estate Marketing Posted on July 9, 2016June 25, 2021 by Michael Light Thank goodness the FAA came to their senses and finally introduced new regulations that loosen drone rules allowing real estate agents to not have to jump through hoops to market properties for their clients. I purchased my drone back in April 2014 to begin using it for real estate marketing. Shortly thereafter, the FAA enacted these crazy regulations forcing real estate agents to apply for a Section 333 exemption with the FAA to legally use a drone for real estate marketing (in other words, a “pay to play” B.S. regulation). But the new rules, which will take effect in August of this year, no longer require a Section 333 exemption for real estate agents to use drones for marketing purposes. Specifically, I had the intention of using my drone to provide my developer clients with aerial views of properties that they were debating to purchase for redevelopment, for my clients looking to purchase pre-construction condos to allow them to get a real feel of what their actual view would be from their respective purchase, for my listings to create videos of properties from above and showcase highlights of certain neighborhoods to show out-of-town buyers. However, I was simply too busy to jump through hoops with the FAA to get permission to use my drone, so I just didn’t. Well, at least the rules came after one of my videos showcasing Kennedy Park in Coconut Grove was shown on Good Morning America. So, the official rule changes are exciting for my business and my clients as I will be able to use my drone again to market properties and to assist various buyers in their decision-making process. Click Here to read more information regarding the new FAA regulations. If you, or someone you know, are interested in working with a Miami real estate broker who utilizes technology to market properties for sale, please contact Michael Light of Miami Luxury Homes. You may reach me directly at my office at (305) 350-9842 or via email at michael@miamiluxuryhomes.com.
Coconut Grove-Based Private School Ransom Everglades Buys $34M Mansion Posted on June 22, 2016 by Michael Light Arguably the best private school in South Florida, Ransom Everglades based in Coconut Grove, just purchased its 6.9-acre neighboring property dubbed “La Brisa” for $34.6 Million, the highest price ever paid for a single-family home in Coconut Grove. Located at 3551 Main Highway bordering Ransom’s Upper School (Grades 9-12) the La Brisa property was once Miami’s most expensive listing as it was previously listed at $65 Million back in 2014. It was lowered to $39.5 Million in March providing a much closer number to the final sales price of the property. The purchase will grow Ransom Everglades already massive 9.8-acre campus to a whopping 16.7 acres. Ransom closed on La Brisa on June 21st and plans to respect the nature and historic heritage of the property while also improving educational spaces for students. The Head of School at Ransom Everglades, Penny Townsend, announced in a statement that “we can’t pass up the opportunity to buy this beautiful property. The purchase will allow us to improve our facilities, add vital greenspace and continue our long tradition of respecting, protecting and learning from the treasures of Old Florida and Miami’s precious coastal ecosystems.”
Viceroy Hotel at Icon Brickell Purchased for $65M and is Now W Miami Posted on June 5, 2016 by Michael Light The Viceroy Hotel at Icon Brickell was purchased last week for $65M and is now part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts W Hotel brand and will be undergoing major renovations. Renovations of the newly dubbed W Miami Hotel will include the creation of W brand’s signature W Living Room on the 15th floor overlooking the sparkling waters of Biscayne Bay. In addition, the rooftop lounge on the 50th floor, known now as Club 50, “will be transformed into Downtown Miami’s most glamorous sky-high destination, with the brand’s stylish and energetic take on cocktail lounge and WET deck.” W Miami is the newest hotspot on the 10-acre bayfront mixed-use development Icon Brickell, famously known for its 2-acre pool deck. The hotel offers 148 guest rooms and suites in addition to 38 residential units that are also serviced by the hotel. If you, or someone you know, are interested in purchasing a residential unit at the W Miami at Icon Brickell, please contact Michael Light. You may reach me directly at my office at (305) 350-9842, on my cell at (786) 566-1700 or via email at info@iconbrickellcondos.com.