Our New Listing! Impressive 2 Bedroom with Great Views at One Bal Harbour.

I’m not even back from my summer vacation in Asia, but I had to stop what I was doing to tell you about this new listing we have. It’s incredible. The building is the Ritz Carlton One Bal Harbour, which is probably the city's most prestigious residence. And that’s one of the reasons this is such a great deal.

For under $2.5 million, it has a private elevator that opens directly into the residence, a huge terrace with ocean views and all of the hotel-like amenities you expect from Ritz Carlton. Plus, pool service and private cabanas, and who doesn’t want that? Just look at the pictures, and you’ll fall in love with this condo like I did.

Check out the property on my site for more pictures and details, and call me if you want a private showing!

10295 Collins Avenue #406, Bal Harbour, FL 33154
2 bedrooms/ 2.5 baths

Asking $2.495 million

MIAMI FACING BIG PROBLEMS IN THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL MARKET

Bad news for anybody using Airbnb for short-term rentals. It used to be that investors could make a nice profit renting their Miami properties short term through sites like Airbnb. After all, everybody loves to visit Miami, but many tourists prefer an apartment rather than a hotel. Lately there have been major changes to local ordinances and enforcement. Miami Beach is fining first-time offenders up to $20,000, and the city has collected $1.6 million since March. As one property own told the Miami New Times: “It just shows the hotel lobby has a much stronger hold on this administration.”

...BUT DON’T WORRY!

There are still some buildings in South Beach that do allow legal short term rentals and make for great investments. And we’ve got a listing at one of the best — if not the best — building. This is a gorgeous art deco building called the Fontana, located just two blocks from Lincoln Road. The condo is a one bedroom that’s a perfect investment property. Use it as a holiday home for yourself, and rent it out the rest of the year. It has teak floors and a stunning chrome kitchen, and the price is just right. Ask me for more information about making it yours! Click here for photos and details!

1601 West Ave. #113
1 bed / 1 bath / 691 Sq.Ft.

Asking $379,000

SUMMER IN MIAMI MEANS HEAT, AND A HOT BUYERS’ MARKET

If you’ve been looking to buy in Miami, right now may be the best time. According to the latest trend report from OpenHouse, Miami is the strongest buyers’ market in the entire country. An incredible 85 percent of homes were sold under asking at the end of August.

As a rule of thumb, summer is typically the slow season, and sellers are anxious to get their listing sold before the start of the season. This summer there have been big sales, but also rising inventory, and buyers can usually negotiate a better deal. Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you’re ready to buy!

IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO TASTE MIAMI SPICE

Miami Spice is the summer-long event I look forward to every year, and because I’ve been traveling I haven’t been able to go yet. Luckily, I’ll be back before it ends on Sept. 30. If you aren’t familiar with Miami Spice, it’s organized by the visitors bureau, and basically it’s a chance for anyone to eat signature dishes from top restaurants prepared by world-renowned chefs. You can get a three-course meal for $23 for lunch and $39 for dinner. It’s an incredible deal. You can learn more about it here.

DON’T FORGET ABOUT THE *OTHER* MIAMI WATERFRONT

For multimillion-dollar waterfront condos, there’s the bay, there’s the ocean… that’s it, right? Not anymore. Decades ago, the Miami River used to be a place you might find disgusting (or illicit) things floating along the surface. But today it’s cleaned up and the shoreline is quickly being developed into a walkable, attractive place for nightlife and luxury residences.

There are already some well-known spots, like Seaspice and River Oyster Bar, but new destinations are going up all the time alongside the development of Downtown and Brickell. The Miami Herald had a nice write-up in the business section last year.

SPIN THE GLOBE…

As I mentioned, I’ve been bumming around Asia this summer, exploring some big cities I’ve never been to, as well as some less well-known cities like Da Nang, Vietnam. I’ve also visited Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Seoul, Shanghai and more. It’s been an amazing adventure, but I’m getting ready to come home and sleep in my own bed.

I’m not the only one who’s on the road (or up in the air): My partner Joan was in Europe for a month, where she visited Italy, the French Riviera and then back home to Holland. Joan is from a town called Amsforth, about an hour outside Amsterdam. If only holidays lasted forever — time to get back to work!