florida real estate

Villa Stella, Estate of the Day

Filed under: Estates

Villa Stella is a Moroccan fantasy on Miami's ritzy Star Island. This four-bedroom, two-story home on the water has four enclosed garages including two that are fully air conditioned. The formal arrival court can hold up to 15 cars.

Inside awaits a private sanctuary done in a bright yet soft palette. The home's 30-foot ceilings display handpainted murals and skylights by muralist Yves Lanthier and the decor also has Southwestern and Balinese influences. The master and guest suite rooms are on the upper floor and staff quarters and a garden guest suite are on the ground floor. The master suite includes lavish his and hers baths with semi-precious light-colored onyx flooring and vanities, multiple shower heads, whirlpool bath, and heated towel racks. An enclosed rooftop observatory offers a quiet place to enjoy views all around anytime of the day or night. Carved wood and elaborate tile details give this home an exotic feel.

The kitchen has double wall ovens, double Sub Zero refrigerators, two dishwashers and a Viking gas stove with grill. The saltwater keyhole-shaped pool and bayside gazebo with a relaxation bed and summer kitchen offer views across the bay to South Beach. The home has 100 feet of waterfront with a boat dock for a yacht and jet skis. The backyard includes a swing set and doll house. The home's technology includes security cameras 24/7, audio/visual controls, interior and exterior lighting controls in every room. This home is listed at $24 million with Sylvia Fragos of Great Estates International Realty.

Gallery: Villa Stella

Tags: estate of the day, florida real estate, miami real estate, star island

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Jade Ocean Building Features Super Luxe Kid's Playroom

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Real Estate Developments

The Jade Ocean building in Sunny Isles, Florida features the room shown above, what just might be the most luxurious kids playroom ever. The deluxe amenity for condo owners was outfitted by Florida's high-design children's store Genius Jones. The room includes mini versions of Philippe Starck ghost chairs and a mini Alfa Romeo.

It's not all kids stuff at this building though. The 50-story condo tower also has an infinity-edge pool, an ultra chic fitness center/health club with Technogym fitness technology; a resident only beach club with cabanas, and media and community rooms. Public spaces in the building were created in collaboration with Fendi Casa and the building's dramatic entrance features a six story waterfall.

Residences have floor-to-ceiling glass windows and terrace with panoramic views. Kitchens feature glass kitchen cabinets with granite countertops and stainless steel backsplashes as well as Miele and Sub-Zero stainless steel kitchen appliances. The most expensive unit in the building is a five-bedroom penthouse listed at $6.9 million.

Tags: florida real estate, jade ocean, sunny isles

A Cabin at Pine Creek Sporting Club, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

We last mentioned Pine Creek Sporting Club near Okeechobee, Florida back in 2009. The club is designed for shooting enthusiasts. The community is about an hour from West Palm Beach, and founding members include Tullio Fabbri (world renowned shotgun maker), Jack Nicklaus, Nick Price, and Tucker Frederickson (a former NFL #1 draft pick). The gun-friendly development boasts over 1000 acres of quail fields, guided hunting, a members lodge, aviary, dog kennel, a sporting clay course, a rifle and pistol range and a simulated quail flush course. Non-shooting related amenities include concierge service, helipad, a treehouse restaurant, bocce courts, swimming pool and horse stables. The community includes smaller cabin properties and larger ranch properties.

The club has luxury amenities include the recently completed fitness center and pool area. The 4,127 sq. foot Fitness Center and pool area was designed by Palm Beach architect Roger Janseen and interior designer Marc-Michaels. Pine Creek Sporting Club also has a new six-horse equestrian program.

This cabin is a modified version of a floorplan called the .20 gauge. There are a total of only 23 custom cabins on a tranquil lake, surrounded by live oaks, cypress, and majestic pines. The Cabins at Pine Creek also back up to a unique preserve area bustling with an abundance of wildlife and foliage. The Cabins range in size from 2,329 to 3,472 sq. feet, with two and three-bedroom options available. All cabins include two bathrooms, a fireplace and a spacious porch. This one is three-bedrooms with two bathrooms and a sleeping loft with two built-in beds. Architect Denio Maderia designed an open floor plan invites people to spend their time together in the expansive central area while the decor by Giana Allen Interior Design is rustic but chic eschewing the easy country cliches. This property sells for $1.2 million furnished.

Gallery: Pine Creek Sporting Club Cabin

Gallery: Pine Creek Sporting Club Amenities

Tags: Estate Of The Day, Florida, Florida Real Estate, Okeechobee, Pine Creek Sporting Club

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Florida's Foreclosure King David Stern Putting His Assets Up For Sale

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates, Wealth

Foreclosure lawyer David Stern is putting his luxury assets worth tens of millions up for sale according to a comprehensive piece by the Orlando Sun-Sentinel. The newspaper tracked down the many possessions of the lawyer who built Florida's largest foreclosure legal practice. Stern took a $58.5 million payout last year and his company DJSP Enterprises which provide paperwork services to his law firm is traded on the Nadaq stock exchange.

The company has faltered in recent months and around 1,000 DJSP employees have been laid off since last fall. Stern's firm was once one of the largest foreclosure firms in Florida but there have been claims of fraudulent court documents being filed in foreclosure cases. It is now one of seven foreclosure law firms being investigated by the Florida Attorney General's Office.

Stern has listed two properties on South Florida's Hillsboro Beach and the Sun-Sentinel article says that what is believed to be his Italian-built superyacht, the 130-foot yacht, Misunderstood, is listed for sale for $18 million at The Yacht & Brokerage Show on Miami Beach. Together two properties on Hillsboro Beach which have enviable ocean-to-intracoastal lots are listed for a total of nearly $20 million. A Vail ski house belonging to Stern's wife is also on the market for around $6 million.

Even if he sells those properties he still has a $15 million mansion in Fort Lauderdale and a penthouse condo in the Ritz Carlton on Fort Lauderdale Beach.

Tags: david j stern, david stern, florida real estate, foreclosure, plantation florida

Luxury Real Estate Up For Government Auction In Florida

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions, Real Estate Developments

A pair of luxury Florida homes will hit the auction block next month at a US Department of the Treasury auction. The auctions on March 1 and 2 each at the property website. The home being auctioned off on March 1,shown at right, is on Marco island near Naples, Florida. It is a four-bedroom home with two kitchens, a pool and spa. The home has taxes of around $13,200 per year and has approximately 3,900 square feet of living space. A $50,000 cashier's check is required to bid.

The second home is a two-story home in Golden Beach, Florida, a luxury enclave that features some very expensive real estate including Ricky Martin's home. The five-bedroom home is located in a secured community along the intracoastal waterway with the Atlantic Ocean just to the east. This home has a media room, attached garages, pool, dock and more. The 2009 taxes were over $65,000 and this large luxury home with over 7,270 square feet of living space requires a $100,000 cashier's check to bid. Check out the Treasury auction website for more details.

Tags: florida real estate, golden beach, marco island, naples florida, real estate auction

A Glimpse At Where Tiger Trains

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates, Sports

We've been hearing about Tiger Woods' massive complex in Jupiter Island, Florida for years. Back in 2005, Woods paid around $38 million for a 10-acre compound on Jupiter Island in Florida. It was a very expensive teardown, in 2007 the estate's redevelopment was estimated to be in the $15-$20 million range. But Tiger wasn't building just for fun, the home is centered around keeping him in peak shape for his golf game.

His property, which extends from the Intracoastal Waterway to the Atlantic Ocean included four houses, the main house, plus two guest houses and a beach house. Woods began construction creating a personal home that now includes a state-of-the-art training facility. Jeff Realty has an image of the enviable facilities which would do any university proud. The facilities include his own personal golf course; a 100-foot length swimming pool; a separate 60-foot diving pool and a spa as well as a full tennis/basketball court.

Jeff Lichenstein says that while on similar Jupiter Island estate homes you might see waterfall resort-style stone pools with lots of freeform space for lounge chairs and entertaining, Tiger's area is strictly business, the deck is built with practically no space to lay out or entertain and the view is of his own golf course with the Intracoastal practically a mile away. This is a place for Woods to get back to what he does best, winning.

Jeff & Cary Lichtenstein are real estate agents with Illustrated Properties. They concentrate on marketing Admirals Cove real estate in Jupiter Florida to Mirasol homes for sale in Palm Beach Gardens Florida

Tags: celebrity real estate, florida real estate, jupiter island, tiger woods

Snapper Creek, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Today's home had a $1.5 million price cut a few months back but that's not the only reason I'm featuring it. This large home is in the gated community of Snapper Creek Lakes in Coral Gables, Florida. This is an older subdivision, originally developed in the 1950s. It includes a privately owned boat basin with a full-time dock master and security. It offers direct access to Biscayne Bay. Today's home is a six-bedroom plantation style home with delightful wide porches. It's a colorful home with plenty of hand-painted details including a vine mural in the wine cellar. Although it has a luxurious feel with a formal dining room and grand spaces, there is also a warmth to this home that makes it more appealing than some of Florida beige faux Tuscans. The property also includes a pool, dock and two-bedroom guest house. Other nice features include a media room, family room and a generator to cope with potential power outages. This property is now listed at $10.999 million.

Gallery: Snapper Creek

Tags: coral gables, estate of the day, florida real estate, snapper creek lakes

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Por La Mar, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Today's estate is a second look at one I covered back in 2007 which has remained on and off the market for the past few years. It is located in the neighborhood of Por la Mar, a luxurious enclave with many houses fronting Lake Boca in Boca Raton, Florida. In this area the houses are mostly newer builds and mostly huge with just a few smaller single story older houses that speak to the neighborhood's more humble past. The estates are large and lavish but sit on small plots of land which call for inventive uses of space. The houses seem to run in two directions in the area, the modern and white or the Euro-fabulous. This home is definitely the later. It has a large formal motor court with a fountain courtyard. The home has a total of over 17,000 total square feet. The six-bedroom home includes a large master suite that takes up an entire wing and has a lakeside loggia, large bedroom, a sitting room with custom built-ins, an exercise room, and his and her marble spa baths. His bath adjoins a walk-in closet and hers has a spa tub, separate shower, and adjoining wardrobe room.

The main entertaining space includes a huge living room that overlooks the lakefront lagoon pool. The family room has a glass wall and opens to the pool loggia. The formal dining has a domed ceiling and a two-story bookcase-filled library has a fireplace and spiral stairs up to a book loft. The kitchen looks more decorative than user friendly with antiqued cabinetry and marble counters but there is also a butler's pantry and a wine room. The lakefront breakfast room also has a granite-topped bar. And one final luxury detail: a club room with a media lounge, billiard area and full service bar with gourmet brick pizza station. This home was once listed at $19.5 million but can now be had for $12.5 million. Property records reveal it sold for $14 million in 2004.

Gallery: Por La Mar

Tags: boca raton, estate of the day, florida real estate, lake boca, lake boca raton

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Ritz-Carlton Residences at Singer Island Host Grand Opening

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Real Estate Developments

Luxury is on the rise in Palm Beach once again. Lionheart Capital, owner of The Ritz-Carlton Residences Singer Island, is hosting the official grand opening of the 8.8-acre oceanfront property on January 21. The two tower complex is one of only six stand-alone residential properties managed by the Ritz-Carlton brand worldwide. In June 2010, Lionheart, in partnership with Elliott Management Corporation, closed the $120 million bulk purchase of the remaining inventory at 2700 North Ocean (a total of 146 units in the 242-unit project). The property converted to The Ritz-Carlton Residences Singer Island, Palm Beach on November 1. Real estate in South Florida continues to struggle but news from this property is strong so far, with only 60 days on the market as a Ritz-Carlton, the property has already logged $20 million in sales.

The opening celebration includes accreted indoor/outdoor art tour featuring works from the private collections of Carlos and Rosa de la Cruz, Ella Cisneros Fontanals, Marvin and Elayne Mordes, Jane Holzer and Beth Rudin DeWoody, as well as pieces on loan from Art Palm Beach by Litvak Gallery and Albert Paley, among others. The event will include the unveiling of the Signature Residence models as well as samplings of food prepared by the property's new chef.

Tags: Ferrari, florida real estate, palm beach, palm beach florida, palm beach real estate, ritz-carlton, ritz-carlton residences, ritz-carlton singer island, singer island

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Luxury Miami Project Goes Back To Lender

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Real Estate Developments

A luxury condo building in Miami Beach has gone back to its lenders. The Miami Herald reports that South of Fifth, a $73 million luxury condominium building has gone back to its lender, after a foreclosure auction. The project at 135 Ocean Drive, first went into foreclosure back in 2009 as the original developer struggled to pay back a $73 million loan to iStar Financial. The project was yet another South Florida victim of bad timing, it opened in 2009 just as interest and prices were tumbling in the area.

The Herald article describes the transaction as a friendly foreclosure: the lender obtained a final judgment of $90.8 million against defaulting developer BR Villa Luisa in December and took back ownership of the property Tuesday. Now it falls to iStar to sell the 29 available condos at the 32-unit property. Listings on the Kleer Team website say that they have been instructed by project lenders to sell at reduced prices to qualified buyers. Prices listed range from $400,000 to $6.8 million. Amenities in the building include valet parking; full-time concierge; a pool facing the ocean and whirlpool spa; fitness center; private lounge and more. Some residences have wrap-around balconies and penthouses have their own, 4,000-square-foot rooftop terraces with private pools and summer kitchens. Although this isn't great news, it seems like this foreclosure has been in the works for a while. Overall much of the real estate news we've seen coming out of Miami is pointing at a slow recovery in the sales of luxury condos.

Tags: condo development, condo developments, condo foreclosure, florida real estate, miami real estate, south of fifth

Hulk Hogan Still Trying To Sell Off His Florida Real Estate

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates, Celebrity Shopping

Hulk Hogan may have gotten married at his Clearwater, Florida home in December but that doesn't mean he isn't still trying to unload it. Not only that, he is still trying to sell the Belleair, Florida home that he shared with his ex-wife Linda and his family and was featured in the reality television show "Hogan Knows Best." Back in 2006 the five-bedroom home was listed at $25 million.

The Hogans struggled through an acrimonious divorce before going their separate ways and the French country style manor home returned to market in 2009 when it was listed at $13.9 million. The property has a 17,000 square-foot home and includes a guest apartment, boat house, large lawns, several garages, boat lifts and a floating dock all on 1.5 acre. Property taxes are $126,629. Its most recent price is $10.9 million. Newer listing pictures show that the Hogans furniture is now gone and the stagers have come in so the home's large spaces are more easily showcased.

Hogan's other property didn't have quite so far to fall. The other property is far smaller, a Key West style three-bedroom home right on the beach in Clearwater. The three-bedroom home was listed at $2.3 million but now has a price of $1.995 million.

Gallery: Hulk Hogan in Belleair, Florida, New Listing Pictures

Gallery: Hulk Hogan In Belleair, Florida

Gallery: Hulk Hogan In Clearwater Beach

Tags: celebrity real estate, florida real estate, hulk hogan, Terry Bollea

The Penthouse at the Carlyle, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Elin Nordegren's hunt for a Tiger-adjacent Florida pad took her through today's estate, a penthouse in the Carlyle building in Jupiter Island, Florida. The penthouse was upgraded and reconfigured so that the eastern views of the Intracoastal and western views of the Ocean could be enjoyed in all major living areas at all times. The home has limestone floors and curved and coffered ceilings designed by David Aultz. There home has a living room as well as a family room with a fireplace.

The kitchen is designed for entertaining with two Miele dishwashers, a Miele warming oven, double Thermador ovens, three refrigerators, large pantry area and an extra wide galaxy granite island. The breakfast area has views of the Intracoastal and the formal dining room has double coffered ceilings. The master has a direct ocean view, and a custom window to the north lets you see the Intracoastal and straight up Jupiter Island. There is a private study/media room off the master and luxurious his and hers baths. The home also includes a guest suite with views of the Intracoastal. Multiple balconies and a private 3000 square foot sky patio allows you to entertain your guests from the highest point in Jupiter Island with the most spectacular views.The penthouse comes with its own 3-car garage with extra storage. Building amenities include a generator for the building, hot water circulation, water filtration system, automatic hurricane shutters, reading area, exercise room, private elevator with staff, sauna, private pool, and beach access. This unit is listed at $3.999 million with Jeff Lichtenstein.

Gallery: The Carlyle

Tags: carlyle group, estate of the day, florida real estate, jupiter island, penthouse, penthouses for sale

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Scenic Highway, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Today's home in Pensacola, Florida is all about the view. The waterfront home is perched on the Scenic Highway bluffs with views over Escambia Bay. A new 350-foot dock and a large 42'x42' boathouse offer room for your aquatic toys. The dock boasts 4' deep water year around. The home has two very large balconies giving you views of marine life at play as pelicans, seagulls and occasional osprey dive and even the occasional dolphin can be spotted. The home has a great room with over 20' high ceilings, fireplace, gourmet kitchen with granite countertops and top of the line appliances, formal dining room, polished travertine floors and a balcony that stretches the entire width of the house.

The master suite includes a see-through fireplace, a custom designed master bathroom and closets, generous laundry and separate storage room plus a library/office or another bedroom with in suite bathroom overlooking the landscaped and very private front yard. Two more stories are reached through the interior staircase or via the commercial sized glass elevator where large windows reveal the Bay views as you travel between floors. The second level is taken up by a very large bedroom, huge sitting area and luxurious bathroom a private guest suite. The third story has another very large balcony running along the entire width of the home and two large bedrooms facing the bay with in-suite bathrooms. A second guest kitchen is easily accessed from both bedrooms; and that provides accesses to the gardens and multi-level decks with an outside hot tub and showers under the house.

Back on the ground floor there is a fenced in yard and another gated entrance and driveway to a large parking deck about 35 feet above sea level which is accessed via a private, paved road along the Bay. There is comprehensive hurricane and security protection at the touch of a switch and every window and door has roll down insulated hurricane shutters. This home is listed at $3.7 million.

Gallery: Scenic Highway

Tags: estate of the day, florida real estate, pensacola

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10 Most Expensive Properties Listed for Sale in 2010

by Ann Brenoff (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Wasn't 2010 the year that we rejected our gluttonous spending ways, when we convinced ourselves that less was more and that Dante intended to have a circle for those who couldn't make do with any fewer than five bathrooms? Well, no doubt the following homeowners just want to join the downsizing party.

Presenting, the Luxist List of the 10 Most Expensive Properties on the Market in 2010. (An asterisk or two: Some of these listings are holdovers from 2009, one even from 2006. And while it's inconceivable that a publicly listed home in this price bracket would escape our attention, frequently homes are available as pocket listings -- the owner will sell them for the right price, but oh-so-quietly.)

1) The Manor -- or aka, Candyland, as the Candy Spelling mansion is dubbed. On the market at $150 million for eons now, the mistress of the mansion appears unwilling to bequeath the title of "most expensive home in America" to anyone else. Fair enough. But unless the frog she kisses turns into a Saudi prince, we fear this palace will be heading our list in 2011 too.
Besides, in this new era of austerity, what does one woman really need with 123 rooms and 56,500-square feet? It's the largest home in Los Angeles County and was built by Candy and her deceased husband Aaron Spelling, the entertainment mogul who created -- among other things -- "Beverly Hills 90290" that starred their daughter Tori Spelling. The two-story house has a level between the second story and the attic that is just for closets. There is a screening room, bowling alley, three rooms for wrapping presents and a parking lot for 100 cars. Oprah is said to have looked but if she did, she didn't buy. Listing agent: Jeff Hyland of Hilton & Hyland in Beverly Hills, who shares it with partner Rick Hilton and Coldwell Banker agent Sally Forster Jones.

Gallery: The Spelling Manor

Tags: california real estate, florida real estate, luxury real estate, most expensive homes, nevada real estate, new york real estate

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Alameda Court, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Florida homes can often be a mixed bag architecturally but this one seems to combine luxury with elements of classic style for a look that is undeniably lavish but still charming and livable. Part of the appeal comes from the use of curves and arches. The home is nearly 9,900 square feet of living area with a total of over 14,000 square feet total that includes an outdoor area for entertaining that has a pool crossed by a small bridge. The six-bedroom home has a large open kitchen given a rustic touch through the use of natural stone, a look that also adds interest to the master bath. The home is designed for fine living with a large wine cellar, multiple dining areas, a home theater and a library. The property has a dock with direct Gulf access and a guest house. It is listed at $7.495 million.

UPDATE: Thanks to the commenters who mentioned that I forgot to point out the specific location of this home. It's on Marco Island on the Gulf of Mexico in Collier County.

Gallery: Alameda Court