Jeff Bezos And Lauren Sanchez Relocate To Indian Creek Island In Miami Beach Posted on November 6, 2023November 27, 2023 by Sarah Elles Boggs Miami is gaining yet another full-time Billionaire. Jeff Bezos has announced that he and his love, Lauren Sanchez, will be relocating from Seattle to the Billionaire Bunker of Indian Creek Island, where he recently purchased two neighboring properties. During the summer, he purchased the $68 million teardown at 11 Indian Creek Island Drive. It is a 9,200 square foot home that was constructed in 1965 on a 1.84 acre waterfront lot. At the time, he expressed his desire to raze the home and construct something new. Fast forward to October and the next step of his play came to fruition when he purchased the neighboring home for $79 million. This property at 12 Indian Creek Island Drive was constructed in 2000. The home is 19,000 square feet including a pool house and 7 bedrooms, 14 baths, a cinema and at least 3 living areas. The second lot is also 1.84 acres of waterfront, garnering the lovebirds over 3.6 acres of waterfront property to enjoy on the island with just 41 total homesites, its own police force, country club and golf club. Jeff Bezos 12 Indian Creek Drive Entry At the time of the announcement, Bezos expressed his love of the magic city and his longing for his family. His parents recently returned to the area with a waterfront home they purchased in Coral Gables during July of this year. “My parents have always been my biggest supporters. They recently moved back to Miami, the place we lived when I was younger (Miami Palmetto High class of ’82 — GO Panthers!) I want to be close to my parents, and Lauren and I love Miami.” Bezos said in a social media post. The Amazon founder’s fiancée echoed his enthusiasm for the move, captioning an image of the home with “Miami 💖.” Jeff Bezos 12 Indian Creek Drive Bay View In addition to being closer to his parents, Bezos is also enthusiastic about being closer to the Blue Origin headquarters, which is gradually shifting to the space center at Cape Canaveral, FL. The space exploration branch of his conglomerate is increasingly a pet project for the multi-hyphenate founder. Is This The Only Reason For The Move? While he publicly denies it, we have to pay attention to the tax benefits that Bezos and Sanchez will experience through their relocation as this is a large reason for much of the relocation we have experienced over recent years. While Washington State also does not have a state income tax (many of our transplants from the Northeast and New England are escaping state income tax), Bezos would also escape a proposed wealth tax through his relocation according to MarketWatch. This tax affects all of those whose net worth exceeds $250 million, which obviously includes the Amazon founder. His net worth currently is estimated at $161 billion according to Bloomberg. Jeff Bezos 12 Indian Creek Drive Formal Living Piano Bezos will be in good company as a billionaire in the Miami area. He will join the founder of the famous hedge fund Citadel, Ken Griffin as well as former Google chairman Eric Schmidt and his wife Wendy in the 305. The Schmidt’s are currently on a buying spree throughout waterfront homes on the Sunset Islands. Some of Bezos’ and Sanchez’s immediate neighbors will include Tom Brady, Jared and Ivanka Kushner, Julio Iglesias and Carl Icahn. Whatever his reasoning is for the relocation, we welcome the Bezos’s! Scroll down for more photos of Jeff and Lauren’s new waterfront abode. Images Courtesy of Miami MLS Jeff Bezos 12 Indian Creek Drive Bayfront Jeff Bezos 12 Indian Creek Drive Blue Room Jeff Bezos 12 Indian Creek Drive Dining Room Jeff Bezos 12 Indian Creek Drive Family Room Jeff Bezos 12 Indian Creek Drive Formal Living Jeff Bezos 12 Indian Creek Drive Foyer Jeff Bezos 12 Indian Creek Drive Gallery Entrance Jeff Bezos 12 Indian Creek Drive Gallery Jeff Bezos 12 Indian Creek Drive Golf Course View Jeff Bezos 12 Indian Creek Drive Great Room Jeff Bezos 12 Indian Creek Drive Guest Bedroom Khaki Jeff Bezos 12 Indian Creek Drive Guest Bedroom Jeff Bezos 12 Indian Creek Drive Infinity Pool Jeff Bezos 12 Indian Creek Drive Kitchen Layout Jeff Bezos 12 Indian Creek Drive Kitchen Jeff Bezos 12 Indian Creek Drive Library Jeff Bezos 12 Indian Creek Drive Mezzanine Jeff Bezos 12 Indian Creek Drive Mirrored Gallery Jeff Bezos 12 Indian Creek Drive Patio Jeff Bezos 12 Indian Creek Drive Pool and Pool House Jeff Bezos 12 Indian Creek Drive Pool House Jeff Bezos 12 Indian Creek Drive Primary Bath Tub Jeff Bezos 12 Indian Creek Drive Primary Bath Jeff Bezos 12 Indian Creek Drive Primary Suite Jeff Bezos 12 Indian Creek Drive Seawall Jeff Bezos 12 Indian Creek Drive Spiral Staircase Jeff Bezos 12 Indian Creek Drive Theater Bar Jeff Bezos 12 Indian Creek Drive Theater Screen Jeff Bezos 12 Indian Creek Drive Theater Jeff Bezos 12 Indian Creek Drive Waterfront Jeff Bezos 12 Indian Creek Drive Wet Bar
Covid-19 was the Stimulus for Record-Breaking Sales in Miami Posted on September 19, 2020 by Michael Light Earlier this year, the virus/pandemic/lockdown (most people interchange any of these words) caused many to consider the Miami Beach real estate market on its way to crashing and burning. Everywhere I looked, headlines were written to induce visions of post-2008, plummeting values, end-of-the-world type catastrophic hyperbole that almost seemed like a self-fulfilling prophecy…many almost rooting for this. I’ve had calls and emails with many clients both locally and globally that asked how bad things would get and how much real estate value they would lose. I even have one client who sends me YouTube videos of so-called “experts” predicting real estate values crashing. I will tell those of you reading this the same thing I told them…you CANNOT look at things, especially real estate, on such a “macro” level – the overall real estate market in the U.S. or Florida or even Miami-Dade County has no bearing on your small pocket/neighborhood/community/street or building! You must think locally! If you ask a real estate agent “how is the real estate market” and they begin answering that question, as asked, take caution! No one can possibly answer such a broad question like that without understanding what neighborhood…what price point…what criteria…sales velocity/absorption rate/months of supply…houses or condos? Asking such a broad question will never get you an accurate answer. Furthermore, if you own a $10M waterfront home in Miami Beach, do you really care how the $500k condo market in Brickell is affecting the “real estate market?” Do you see what I mean when I say you cannot focus on the “macro” or overall view, but you must think local? If we look at $10M+ inventory, most people would not believe that the last 6 months may have been the most active, record-setting time period in the history of Miami real estate…and this includes the dreaded pandemic! Star Island in Miami Beach: There are only 28 homes on Star Island in Miami Beach plus 6 vacant lots. If you look back at the sales history of homes on the island, only 1 sale occurs every couple of years. Would you be surprised, if not amazed, that 4 homes have sold, 3 land sales closed PLUS 1 more home is currently pending contract on Star Island within the last 4 months? 22 Star Island – Sold for $49.5M July 2020 (Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, rumored to be the buyer) 11 & 12 Star Island – Sold for $37M August 2020 (THIS WAS A LAND SALE – 80,000 sq/ft lot – purchased by billionaire hedge fund manager Ken Griffin) 13 Star Island – Sold for $32.5M August 2020 (A-Rod and J-Lo rumored to be the buyers) 14 Star Island – Sold for $24M August 2020 29 Star Island – Sold for $20.1M September 2020 34 Star Island – Sold for $12M July 2020 (Land Sale – 40,000 sq/ft lot) 44 Star Island – Sold for $10M May 2020 (Land Sale – 48,266 sq/ft lot) 46 Star Island – Under Contract (Was Asking $39.95M) Gables Estates in Coral Gables: There are 192 homes, most are waterfront, within Gables Estates in Coral Gables. Known as the most exclusive gated community in Coral Gables, Gables Estates has only seen 9 closed sales over $10M during the past 5 years…but, during this supposed “collapsing” market, there have been 8 sales in the past 5 months alone! 620 Arvida Parkway – Sold for $49M April 2020 21 Casuarina Concourse – Sold for $37.5M June 2020 700 Casuarina Concourse – Sold for $30M April 2020 (Pharrell rumored to be the buyer) 90 Leucadendra Drive – Sold for $22M July 2020 115 Arvida Parkway – Sold for $20M August 2020 340 Leucadendra Drive – Sold for $12.25M July 2020 (Partially Completed Home – Under Construction) 150 Arvida Parkway – Under Contract (Was Asking $48M) 500 Arvida Parkway – Under Contract (Was Asking $21.9M) In addition to the two exclusive communities above, below is a list of additional, notable $10M+ closed sales over the past 6 months: 1510 W 25th Street – Sold for $24.5M August 2020 (Sunset Islands in Miami Beach) 252 Bal Bay Drive – Sold for $23.25M July 2020 (Bal Harbour) 19 Palm Avenue – Sold for $20.5M August 2020 (Palm Island in Miami Beach) 15 Palm Avenue – Sold for $19.75M August 2020 (Palm Island in Miami Beach) 38 Indian Creek Island Road – Sold for $17.028M April 2020 (Indian Creek Island) 23 Tahiti Beach Island Road – Sold for $16M April 2020 (Tahiti Beach in Coral Gables) 1635 W 22nd Street – Sold for $15M August 2020 (Sunset Islands in Miami Beach) 5050 North Bay Road – Sold for $14.2M February 2020 (North Bay Road in Miami Beach) 941 N Venetian Drive – Sold for $13.6M September 2020 (Venetian Islands in Miami Beach) 1525 N View Drive – Sold for $12.002M June 2020 (Sunset Islands in Miami Beach) 5212 North Bay Road – Sold for $11.1M August 2020 (Teardown for Land Value – North Bay Road in Miami Beach) 70 Palm Avenue – Sold for $10.85M July 2020 (Needs a Massive Facelift – Palm Island in Miami Beach) 4420 North Bay Road – Sold for $10.8M August 2020 (North Bay Road in Miami Beach) 445 + 441 E Rivo Alto Drive – Under Contract (Was Asking $19.9M on the Venetian Islands in Miami Beach) 6650 Allison Road – Under Contract (Was Asking $15.9M on Allison Island in Miami Beach) 460 N Mashta Drive – Under Contract (Was Asking $15.5M on Mashta Island in Key Biscayne) 555 Reinante Avenue – Under Contract (Was Asking $15.495M in Old Cutler Bay in Coral Gables) 35 E Dilido Drive – Under Contract (Was Asking $14.85M on the Venetian Islands in Miami Beach) 436 W Rivo Alto Drive – Under Contract (Was Asking $14.75M on the Venetian Islands in Miami Beach) 709 E Dilido Drive – Under Contract (Was Asking $10.9M on the Venetian Islands in Miami Beach) The sales above in the Miami & Miami Beach area do not just show that the market is active, they show that the appetite for luxury single-family homes is the highest it has ever been AND that we are in a Seller’s Market at this price point! If you are from New York, New Jersey, Chicago, California (places most of the buyers are coming from while “escaping” Covid-19 in their cities), you have to understand that though the real estate market where you are coming from might be “down” at this price point, it does not mean that our market is following suit. If you, or someone you know, would like to buy or sell real estate in Miami, please contact me, Michael Light, Founder/Owner of the Light Group at Douglas Elliman Real Estate. You may reach me directly at my office at 305-350-9842, on my cell phone at 786-566-1700 or via email at michael@miamiluxuryhomes.com.
Discover Miami Beach’s Most Prestigious Residential Communities Posted on May 10, 2018May 10, 2018 by Michael Light Miami Beach offers many luxury residential communities within its city limits, with many of them being very affluent, some being on its own exclusive island, but all of them offer some of the most prestigious residential addresses, housing multi-million-dollar mega mansions. So, let’s discover a little about some of these prestigious Miami Beach residential neighborhoods. Indian Creek Island Indian Creek is an exclusive 300-acre island located on the beautiful waters of Biscayne Bay and recognized as one of the wealthiest, private, most secure communities in Miami Beach, and the world. The high level of privacy and security is the highest priority to the residents of Indian Creek and maintained by having its own private police force, as well as its own 24/7 armed marine patrol monitoring the waters surrounding the island. It is not uncommon for Indian Creek Island to make an impression or make real estate headlines with the rich and famous residents who make it their home. Residents include Spanish singer Julio Iglesias, whose $28 Million home made it on the Top 10 List of Most Expensive Homes in South Florida in Forbes Magazine in 2006; pro golfer Raymond Floyd, former football coach of the Miami Dolphins Don Shula, television host Don Francisco, billionaire investor Carl Icahn, real estate billionaire Peter Breton, Victoria Secret’s model Adriana Lima, co-founder of Calvin Klein Barry Schwartz, Sheik Mohammed al-Fassi of Saudi Arabia, billionaire developer Donny Soffer, steel executive Leroy Schecter, wireless executive Rajendra Singh, radio magnate Raul Alarcon, former cable company CEO Ken Bagwell, US Senator George Smathers, coal and oil executive Christopher F. Viegas, former football team owner and billionaire art collector Norman Braman. In August 2012, Forbes Magazine featured a home sold on Indian Creek as the most expensive home sale in the history of Miami-Dade County. With only 41 luxury, waterfront residences surrounded by lush gardens, these spectacular homes feature resort-style pools, poolside cabanas, rooftop Jacuzzis, full spas, gyms, wine cellars, entertainment theaters, accentuated with lavish furnishings and the finest accessories. The amenities at Indian Creek include an 18-hole golf course, considered one of the finest and occupying the interior of the island with a few holes on the waterfront, and an elite country club. Just minutes away via 91st Street, you have the neighborhood of Surfside, the nearby conveniences and fine dining on Miami Beach, and shopping at the prestigious Bal Harbour Shops. Indian Creek is a magnificent parade of palatial homes exuding extravagance, with panoramic, breathtaking views of Biscayne Bay, the skyline of Downtown Miami, and a premier location of South Florida and the world. North Bay Road North Bay Road runs north and south along the western side of Miami Beach, and is one of the wealthiest communities in South Florida displaying stunning mansions and magnificent estate homes, accessorized with lavish furnishings, and complete with the ultimate in luxury amenities. These include fountains, resort-style pools, koi ponds, spas, Jacuzzi, fitness centers, billiards rooms, fireplaces, theaters, wine cellars and spacious gourmet kitchens with top-of-the-line appliances. Most of these professionally landscaped North Bay Road luxury homes feature waterfront pools and are just steps away from their own private dock, with expansive terraces perfect for entertaining and enjoying the breathtaking, panoramic views of Biscayne Bay. North Bay Road is a complete community with great schools, houses of worship, community interests, and lies near the Miami Beach Botanical Garden, a 2.6-acre property featuring a Japanese garden, and offering a world of activity from Zumba and yoga classes, to cooking workshops, gardening lectures, children’s programs and events for all ages. Lined with one elegant estate home after another in a superb neighborhood, North Bay Road has been home to many past and present celebrities including the Bee Gees, Matt Damon, Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin and Miami Heat champions Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Within minutes, you are playing a round of golf at the prestigious La Gorce Country Club, on the white sand beaches of Miami Beach, dining on Ocean Drive, in vibrant South Beach, and half an hour from the Miami International Airport. For that sophisticated tropical retreat you can call home with all the South Florida luxuries, look no further than North Bay Road. Pine Tree Drive Pine Tree Drive is a scenic road on the eastern side of Miami Beach, well known as one of the most beautiful communities in Miami Beach and home to some over-the-top waterfront estates. Pine Tree Drive runs from W 23rd Street to W 63rd Street, west of Collins Avenue, in Miami Beach, Florida, just minutes from the white sand beaches on the Atlantic Ocean, and a short drive away from the popular and lively South Beach area. The prestigious Miami Beach Golf Club is a highlight of this luxury neighborhood, with a pro shop, ornate Mediterranean clubhouse and a unique golf course restaurant with a great menu and a full-service bar. Extravagant, architecturally designed homes with spectacular landscaping are seen one after another on this splendid street, featuring impressive entrances, fountains, resort-style pools, theaters, gyms, gourmet kitchens, wine cellars, impeccable details, and lavish fixtures. Pine Tree Drive is centrally located with easy access to Miami Beach, Downtown Miami, the Miami International Airport and a premier location for living a grand South Florida lifestyle. South of Fifth The enclave South of Fifth Street, also known as South of Fifth or SoFi, is a small affluent neighborhood situated on the southern tip of Miami Beach that begins at South Pointe Park and covers north to 5th Street, from east to west. Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay on 3 sides, South of Fifth is known as an exclusive tropical paradise where you can both relax and have easy access to all of the exciting water sports and activities that South Florida is so celebrated. One of the most popular destinations in South of Fifth is the 17-acre South Pointe Park. This park is very popular among locals and tourists, as it offers an immense amount of lush green space, paved promenades, outdoor exercise areas and kid’s play areas…perfect for friends, family and their beloved pets to get together for a nice picnic on the manicured lawns, rollerblading, or simply to enjoy a stroll down to the beautiful white sandy beach. South of Fifth is home to some of the most historic restaurants, beautiful oceanfront hotels and chic hotspots in Florida. Some of the historic restaurants include the famous Joe’s Stone Crab, which is open seasonally, Prime 112, Prime Italian and Smith & Wollensky; while the hot spots include Nikki Beach Club, the Big Pink and the low-key Ted’s Hideaway, which are just a few of our favorites. As one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Miami Beach, it should be no surprise that SoFi is home to some of the most luxe condo towers in all of South Florida and is truly an ideal place to call home. A few of the ultra-high-end luxury condos on South of Fifth include Continuum South Beach, Apogee South Beach, 321 Ocean, One Ocean, Murano Grand at Portofino, Ocean House and the newly-constructed Glass Miami Beach. Star Island Star Island is an exclusive, man-made island in the beautiful, turquoise waters of Biscayne Bay, located in the southern part of Miami Beach, south of the Venetian Islands, and east of Palm Island and Hibiscus Island. It is only accessible by using Bridge Road, connected to the MacArthur Causeway, which takes you to the mainland. With its southern location, you are only a short drive away from the lively South Beach area with its sizzling nightlife and to Downtown Miami. Even though there is a guard house at the entrance of Star Island, it is a public neighborhood and you will be allowed to tour this tropical paradise with the incredible sight of one sprawling, magnificent home after another. The children of Star Island are served by the public schools of South Pointe Elementary, Nautilus Middle and Miami Beach High, in addition to the many private schools in South Florida. Star Island is famous for the wealthy residents it attracts, past and present, many of which are celebrities, movie stars, and the elite from the business world, sports stars, artists and entertainers. These headliners include our very own Latin music sensation Gloria Estefan, Madonna, Don Johnson, Thalia, Sean “P Diddy” Combs, Sylvester Stallone, Lenny Kravitz, Will Smith, Rosie O’Donnell and Shaquille O’Neal. Star Island boasts impressive waterfront residences, with all the luxuries to complement its splendor and beauty. As part of the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve, Star Island is a floating jewel of architectural masterpieces on a tropical island in one of the most premier locations of South Florida, and the world. If you, or someone you know, are interested in purchasing a luxury home in Miami Beach, please contact Broker Associate Michael Light directly at (786) 566-1700 or michael@miamiluxuryhomes.com. Michael is a top-producing real estate professional, Senior Director of Luxury Sales and member of the elite Sports & Entertainment Division at Douglas Elliman Real Estate. Michael is also the Founder/Owner of The Miami Luxury Homes Group at Douglas Elliman.
Indian Creek is the Most Expensive Street in the U.S. Posted on April 24, 2015April 24, 2015 by Michael Light The most expensive street in the entire country is right here in Miami-Dade County, Indian Creek Island Road, which is locally known as “Billionaire Bunker,” according to Zillow statistics. Indian Creek Island is known for its ultra-extravagant, mega-mansions that are home to America’s uber rich! In fact, the median home value on Indian Creek Island Road is a staggering $21.48 Million. Wow! In addition, 2 Coral Gables’ streets hit the list as the 10th and 14th most expensive streets in the country. Coming in at #10 is Arvida Parkway in Coral Gables which has a median home value of $11.209 Million, and #14 on the list is Tahiti Beach Island Road which is an ultra-exclusive enclave located in Cocoplum in Coral Gables. Tahiti Beach is also home to the ultra-wealthy with an average home value of $10.267 Million. I would say it is pretty impressive that 3 of the most expensive streets in the entire country are right here in our backyard!