New high-rise rental coming to Coral Gables

Coral Gables is set to see a new high-rise, following approval from the Coral Gables City Commission on Tuesday, the Miami Herald reported.  Miami-based Astor Development Holdings wants to build a mixed-use, 180-unit rental, dubbed the Merrick Manor, on a disused trolley yard on LeJeune Road and Altara Avenue by next year. Plans call for apartment sizes ranging between 790 and 1,200 square feet, 11,740 square feet of retail and 5,946 square feet of office space. “I think we’ll all be happy with the project,” said Mario Garcia-Serra of Greenberg Traurig, who is representing the developers. [Miami Herald] – Christopher Cameron

Miami home prices rise 4.4 percent, according to S&P/Case-Shiller report

Home prices rose 4.4 percent in the Miami metropolitan area in the second quarter compared to the same period in 2011, according to a new report from Standard & Poor’s Case-Shiller. That was the third-highest price increase of any metro area in the country in the second quarter. Phoenix led the country with a 13.9-percent increase. Nationally, home prices rose 1.2 percent. “Home prices gained in the second quarter,” said David Blitzer, chairman of the Index Committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices. “We seem to be witnessing exactly what we needed for a sustained recovery: monthly increases coupled with improving annual rates of change.” — Alexander Britell

Mary Brickell’s EnV residential tower going ahead with construction

The planned EnV residential project in Miami’s Mary Brickell Village mixed-use complex is going ahead, with Plaza Construction winning the contract on the building, the South Florida Business Journal reported. The $65 million project is slated to begin construction next month, with an eventual completion date of 2014. Mary Brickell is home to one of Miami’s most active retail markets, with recent additions including Greek eatery Taverna Opa and New York-based Southern institution Brother Jimmy’s. [SFBJ]

Europeans continue Miami shopping spree

Interest in South Florida’s real estate from across the Atlantic hasn’t waned. Europeans looking for a safe place to hide their millions from the ongoing sovereign debt crisis are continuing to buy in Miami, according to Miami Today. Despite ambitious pricing on certain high-end properties, such as the Versace estate, home prices in South Florida remain relatively affordable compared to cities such as Paris and London. In turn, these buyers are supporting Miami’s housing recovery, at least on the luxury end of the market. Most European buyers are spending at least $1 million on their properties, with around 87 percent paying in cash, according to Frank Jewett, broker and district sales manager at the Keyes Company in Miami Beach.
“Most [Europeans] are buying properties they feel will increase in value or at least hold value,” said Jewett. “As result, prices in that market have increased significantly.” [Miami Today] – Christopher Cameron

Bellini Williams Island planea completar el concreto para Noviembre

El proyecto "Bellini Williams Island" en Aventura planea llegar a su piso más alto de su construcción en Noviembre, como lo anunció se desarrollador Martin Margulies. Bellini, que recientemente dio a conocer su equipo de ventas de Elite International Realty y Only Best Properties, y ha adelantado la fecha de entrega para Mayo de 2013. El proyecto de 24 pisos y 70 unidades recientemente completó su 14ª planta. - Alexander Britell . Para mayor info contactarse con aaguirre@remax-total.com 

Lanzamiento de Icon Bay

De los creadores de ICON Brickell y el ICON South Beach, ahora un proyecto más exclusivo de ICON Bay con sólo 300 unidades, ascensores privados y todas las unidades con vista al mar fantásticas. Estoy seguro de que entiende lo que significan los nombres (Icon, Related Group y ARQUITECTONICA) en la industria de desarrollo de condominios. Los Acuerdos de Reserva llegarán mañana para conseguir una de esas unidades en la primera lista de precios. Sólo 300 unidades. Los valores de las unidades parten en los altos $300K localizadas sobre la Bahia de Biscayne a la altura de las calles 28 y 29.
Hay unidades de 1, 2 y 3 dormitorios.

Los alquileres aumentan en Sunny Isles Beach

El valor medio de los alquileres en Sunny Isles Beach se incrementaron un 17 por ciento en el segundo trimestre de 2012 mientras que la actividad de alquileres cayó un 9 por ciento, según un informe de Condo Vultures. Hubo un total de 215 contratos de arrendamiento de viviendas de abril a junio, en comparación con alrededor de 235 propiedades arrendadas, en el mismo periodo de 2011. Sin embargo, el precio medio mensual de arrendamiento ha pasado de alrededor de $ 1.30 por pie cuadrado en el segundo trimestre de 2011 a aproximadamente $ 1.50 por pie cuadrado en el segundo trimestre de 2012. En comparación, la tasa de alquiler promedio era de $ 1.25 por pie cuadrado por mes durante el mismo periodo de 2009. - Alexander Britell