Luxury Living, No Matter the Style, Heating Up in Miami
Luxury second-home buyers considering South Florida have a myriad of property options to choose from: high-rise or boutique building? In the pulsating heart of it all or in a calm, soothing oasis? While the options are a-plenty, the clock is a-ticking. A recent boom in sales, largely fueled by a contingent of enthusiastic, uber-wealthy South American clientele often paying in cash, is drawing even more buyers to snatch up desirable units before they disappear.
Last month, Unique Homes visited Miami/Hollywood, an area notoriously hard-hit during the economic downturn, to visit two high-end condo properties that are both taking the market by storm with remarkable rates of sale, yet are worlds apart in nearly every other way. Boulan South Beach and Trump Hollywood are at the heart of the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area’s residential resurgence.
Located in Miami’s Cultural Arts Overlay District, directly across the street from the posh, celebrity-frequented Setai Hotel and Resort, and just a block off the beach, the 52-unit, six-level Boulan South Beach has generated major buzz and has carved out a brilliant niche as a quiet, private island in the non-stop sea of South Beach. Homeowners can survey the architecture, lights, and activity of the historic surrounding area from the landscaped rooftop pool, grilling, and lounge area, or from oversized balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows within the decorator-ready residences. Inside each residence, behind sound-proof walls and glass, all is calm and serene, and buyers can escape it all amidst gourmet kitchens and five-piece, spa-inspired marble baths with custom-designed Italian cabinetry.
The slogan is ‘scene meets sanctuary,’ says Lisa Erickson, Head of Sales. Indeed, Boulan stands as the lone boutique luxury building in a fast-paced area packed with ant-farm-style high-rises. Even once sold out, the building never will be at full capacity, due to its second-home and investment nature. While she would not name names, several celebrities, sports figures, and other high-profile clients, lured by the opportunity to come and go discreetly, as well as amenities including 24-hour valet, a concierge, and private beach services, have purchased units at Boulan. As of mid-August, Boulan South Beach was fifty-percent sold, says Erickson, who recently experienced an energetic week of forty-six showings that resulted in thirteen sales.
The trendy, bustling, see-and-be-seen lifestyle of South Beach isn’t for everyone. Nearby Hollywood Beach is a haven for discerning buyers seeking no-holds-barred luxury living in a slower-paced location that is still convenient to all the hot spots. Towering directly over the pristine, very quiet white-sand beach, recently named one of the country’s best by Travel & Leisure, Trump Hollywood boasts immaculate two-, three-, and five-bedroom condos that are selling at a jaw-dropping rate; just released to the market in January, the 200 units are already more than halfway sold. Nearly forty percent of the sales come from referrals, says Michael Nuemann, Director of Sales, and a staggering thirty percent of those referrals purchase a unit simply based off word of mouth; they do not visit the unit prior to making the purchase.
It’s very easy to see why. As mentioned in our earlier blog post about the property, Trump Hollywood boasts nearly every imaginable amenity, from a properly vented cigar room to private elevator entry for each residence. But the building’s real draw is visible at nearly every turn—to-die-for, postcard-worthy views of the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway, as seen from each residence’s floor-to-ceiling windows, surprisingly wide terraces, and the development’s thirty-four pool- and beachside ‘cabanas,’ ranging from $200,000 to $250,000. Here at the Trump, where every minute detail exudes unparalleled quality, a ‘cabana’ is not just a tented bed on which to recline in the sun. It is your own private, air-conditioned, furnished oasis to escape the sand, sun, and surf without having to travel more than mere steps from the pool or ocean. Simply put, this is the most luxurious residential building in South Florida, says Nuemann.
For more information about Trump Hollywood, visit www.trumphollywood.com or read our blog “Trump Hollywood Eclipses $80 Million Sales Mark in Six Months”. Stay tuned for more on Boulan South Beach in an upcoming issue of Unique Homes.
–Sarah Binder
