Tag Archives: continuum condos for sale

Buyers and Their Frequently Asked Questions

Embarking on a first time home purchase can be both exciting and perhaps even a little intimidating. With the amount of paperwork, price negotiations, research, and all of the other details that are attached to the homebuying process, buyers obviously have lots of questions. Let’s take a look at some of the most common ones real estate agents receive.

With the sheer number of homes available, buyers often wonder how many homes they should look at prior to making an offer. This is one where it’s largely up to the buyer to decide. Some people find their ideal home within hours while it may take months for others. Agents suggest narrowing down the search to a preferred neighborhood to make things a little easier.

Buyers are often concerned whether a certain property represents a good deal. Although there is no surefire way of knowing whether a home will appreciate, buyers should definitely take a look at comps to get an idea of how similar properties in the area are selling and how prices have fluctuated in the past.

When a buyer asks whether he or she should request a home inspection, the typical response from an agent is yes. With a home inspection, there are no questions about whether the home is in good working condition and it can save a buyer hundreds of thousands of dollars in having to make repairs.
This update is presented by Miami Beach Realtor Tim Allen of Blackstone International Realty, specializing in Continuum South Beach. If you are interested in Miami Beach condos such as the Continuum condos for sale, call Continuum expert Tim at 305-588-2451 for information on sales and rentals.

Joël Robuchon’s $1,500 Food Festival Event

This year’s South Beach Wine & Food Festival (SOBEWFF) is set to be the largest one yet, with events spreading well beyond Miami Beach. Among the many events and the new ones that were previously discussed, perhaps the most intriguing is the one being spearheaded by French chef Joël Robuchon. On February 26, Robuchon will be hosting an event at the Moore Building in the Miami Design District that will cost $1,500 per person.

Robuchon’s event essentially means guests will be able to dine on all the truffles, Bordeaux, and foie gras they could possibly want. The event will feature four distinct concepts called L’Atelier, Le Bar, La Boutique, and La Terrace. Each of these provides something unique like a casual bar and lounge at Le Bar to the various breads and the sweet and savory items being featured at La Boutique. La Terrace will provide an al fresco dining experience. Each of the concepts is named after upcoming restaurants Robuchon will be opening in Miami in 2017.

As to why Robuchon chose the Miami Design District for his SOBEWFF event, he says that area’s creativity plus its fashion and dining experiences as major factors according to an interview featured in the Miami Herald.

This update is presented by Miami Beach Realtor Tim Allen of Blackstone International Realty, specializing in Continuum South Beach. If you are interested in Miami Beach condos such as the Continuum condos for sale, call Continuum expert Tim at 305-588-2451 for information on sales and rentals.

Valentine’s Day Dining Beyond Miami Beach

Valentine’s Day is happening this Sunday. If you’re planning on a romantic outing involving food, you’ve got plenty of options to choose from, especially in Miami Beach. With the date so close, you may not be able to make a reservation in the barrier island. Let’s explore a couple of options beyond Miami Beach where you may be able to enjoy a great Valentine’s Day meal.

If you like seafood, Devon Seafood + Steak is having a Sunday brunch called the “Hugs & Fishes” where you and your valentine can choose from just about any dish as well as enjoy mimosas and wine at half the price. Devon Seafood + Steak is located at 11715 Sherri Lane in Miami.

Does chicken and waffles with a bottomless glass of rosé sound appealing? Visit Hyde Beach in Hallandale Beach and enjoy its $50 Valentine’s Day themed brunch. If you’re interested in the bottomless rosé it’s only $30 more. Hyde Beach is located at 11 South Surf Road.

La Feria del Mercado de San Miguel is a Spanish pop-up located at Bayfront Park and will be bidding adieu on Valentine’s Day with a party featuring Valentine’s Day themed cocktails, brunch, live music, and more. Besides dining the pop-up also has a market.

This update is presented by Miami Beach Realtor Tim Allen of Blackstone International Realty, specializing in Continuum South Beach. If you are interested in Miami Beach condos such as the Continuum condos for sale, call Continuum expert Tim at 305-588-2451 for information on sales and rentals.

Classic South Beach Apartments Find a Buyer

Yet another round of South Beach properties have recently sold. A collection of fifteen apartment buildings in the area—considered to be one of the few remaining bastions of working class housing—were sold last week for the price of $59 million to a company called Boardwalk Properties FL.

Boardwalk Properties already has plans in store for apartments, which the private company intends to improve and renovate. The apartments comprise a total of 240 units and there are also plans to boost the current rent by up to fifty percent. This significant rent increase could mean that tenants may need to move. For example, a one bedroom apartment can cost upwards of $1,100 a month in rent.

The rent increases appear to be deliberate, with the owner of Boardwalk Properties stating the prices will see people like attorneys move into the apartments that date as far back as the 1920s. The renovated apartments will appeal to those that are interested in becoming residents of Miami Beach but would prefer not to live in one of the city’s several high-rises. The company currently owns over 600 apartments in Bay Harbor Islands as well as Miami Beach and with this deal it now becomes the largest apartment landlord in the South Beach area.

The apartments purchased by Boardwalk Properties are found between 7th and 15th Street. The company will be modernizing them, but promises that they will maintain the Art Deco facade.

Myles Chefetz Chooses Continuum

Have you ever eaten at Prime Italian or Prime 112 in the South of Fifth area? These two Miami Beach restaurants are just of the names associated with celebrity restaurateur Myles Chefetz. Mister Chefetz made real estate headlines last month when he became one of the latest residents of the Continuum South Beach condo, the north tower to be more specific.

Chefetz will now be calling the 2,903 square-foot unit 3502 his home. The residence has three bedrooms and three bathrooms plus a half bath. Because the unit is located one floor below the Continuum’s duplex penthouse the terrace has no roof over it, maximizing the views of nearby Fisher Island and Government Cut as well as allowing in plenty of South Florida’s rich sunlight.

Chefetz isn’t exactly a new Continuum resident. In fact, he has been renting a unit next door at the south tower but has since decided to become a homeowner, or in this case a condo owner. Chefetz calls Continuum “the best property in the county”, speaking favorably about the high values and the condo’s location by the Atlantic Ocean.

The Continuum north tower (also known as Continuum II) is 37 stories tall and is located at 50 South Pointe Drive in the South Beach area.

New South Beach Wine & Food Festival Events

The 15th Annual South Beach Wine & Food Festival will be kicking off later this month, promising to bring lots of unique drinks and bites to not only the barrier island, but many other places throughout South Florida. Besides the celebrities like Giada De Laurentis set to make an appearance, the festival will include classic events like Grand Tasting Village and Burger Bash plus a host of new events. Here are a few highlights to check out if you plan on attending.

At the CiBo Wine Bar on South Pointe Drive, host Laura Werlin will be emceeing a Grilled Cheese Happy Hour on Friday, February 26 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. As the name of the event suggests, guests can experience a mix of booze and grilled cheese provided by Ms. Cheezious.

Also happening on the same Friday, model Chrissy Teigen will be hosting Fireman Derek’s Midnight Breakfast at the National Hotel on Collins Avenue. Fireman Derek is recognized for his pies and along with Teigen, they will be showcasing a variety of creative breakfast dishes by local firefighters.

For its 15th year, the South Beach Wine & Food Festival will be celebrating with a delectable array of desserts prepared by experts. Hosted by Duff Goldman, Sweet 15: A Dessert Party will feature chefs like Jacques Torres, Hedy Goldsmith, and more. The event is being held on Saturday, February 27 from 10pm to midnight at Villa Casa Casuarina on Ocean Drive.

Check out HaVen on Lincoln Road

Have you made any weekend plans yet? The work week is coming to a close and if you happen to live in South Beach, you already know the options are virtually endless when it comes to figuring out what you may be in the mood to do. The beaches (if the weather permits), Ocean Drive, an art gallery, you’re bound to find something.

Today we’re highlighting a spot on popular Lincoln Road called HaVen. Viewing it from the outside there is nothing all that remarkable about the venue, but once you walk in you’ll be enveloped in a colorfully lively nightclub restaurant environment thanks to the profusion of LED lights.

There is a happy hour hosted every day at HaVen from 6 pm to 8 pm where guests try a selection of $8 craft cocktails. In keeping with the naming scheme, these cocktails include names like the gin-style giVen, the vodka infused craVe, and many more. These two particular drinks are only available during happy hour, but there are also $15 dinner cocktails, beers for $5, and a couple wines available for $8 a glass.

Some of the food served at HaVen includes cheeseburgers, tater tots, over four different types of sushi, and more. The venue is located at 1237 Lincoln Road.

A Look Back at 2015 South Florida Market Trends

Every year, market analysts and real estate experts release their predictions regarding where they believe the market is headed. Now that we will be bidding 2015 a fond farewell, 2016 will surely be another exciting year for South Florida real estate. Instead of looking forward, let’s take a look back and see how things progressed this year.

It was anticipated that there would be over 6,000 new condominium units built to the east of Interstate 95 by the time 2015 came to a close, with 5,400 of those units set to emerge within the city of Miami. From that lofty projection, about eight percent of these units are now complete, but the numbers could change as some projects fail to get off the ground and end up being canceled.

Miami Beach penthouses continued to soar, commanding handsome asking prices. At the Continuum II condo in South Beach, its penthouse had a price of $50 million, representing the continued value of Miami Beach real estate. A Star Island estate is another example of high priced Miami Beach property; it was selling for $75 million before it was taken off the market.

Now that we’ve explored 2015 a little bit, where do you believe the market will go in 2016?

Is Miami Preparing for a Housing Bubble?

Is there a bubble when it comes to the Miami housing market? Most experts who follow the real estate market suggest that is not the case, at least not yet anyway. Of the 70 experts polled by online real estate database company, just four of them suggest that Miami is in a bubble though a few did suggest that a bubble may start to form next year.

Once the housing market started to rebound in 2011, prices for homes throughout South Florida have skyrocketed, spurring a tremendous amount of attention from foreign buyers from Latin America, China, and beyond. Although there has been a major upswing, the region is still far away from its heyday when prices were at a record high in 2006. Currently, the values of homes are about 70 percent of the all-time high achieved that year, per the S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Indices.

Price gains have slowed down somewhat, and despite the attention from foreign buyers, the fewer cash home sales suggest there are perhaps less of them. The slowed pace of price gains could signal a positive sign for local buyers looking to perhaps become first-time homebuyers. Due to wages, Miami is considered one of the least affordable housing markets in the country.

Art Basel Artists to Watch

Will you be attending any of the Art Basel events this weekend? This fourteenth incarnation of the event is better and bigger than ever, spilling over from Miami Beach to a multitude of art-related events in Miami’s Wynwood and Midtown neighborhoods. With so much art to see and enjoy, you’re going to need to make some time to check it all out, but there are a couple of artists you may want to keep an eye out for.

Guadalajara-based artist Jose Dávila’s popularity is so strong, his pieces can sell in just a few minutes. One of his intriguing pieces titled “Untitled (M-maybe)” depicts American pop artist Roy Lichtenstein’s painting of a woman with her face removed. This piece was sold for more than $30,000 and his sculptures have commanded over $40,000.

A great feature of Art Basel is its ability to showcase global up and coming artists to new audiences. Artist Yto Barrada of Morocco is currently exhibiting her photography and “Faux Guide” installation at the Carré d’Art in France and you’ll be able to admire some of her artwork right here in Miami Beach during Art Basel.

Belgian artist Harold Ancart made the news when he drove to and from New York and Los Angeles in his car, using his trunk as a makeshift studio and drawing some of the sights he came upon along the way. His work has been featured in the Museum of Modern Art and will also be on display at Art Basel.

Art Basel and its many unique artists are all just moments from the Continuum South Beach. If you’re an art aficionado, you’ll definitely want to learn more about the Continuum condos for sale. Call Continuum expert Tim Allen at 305-588-2451 for information on sales and rentals.