Initially, The Yacht Club at Portofino was developed and conceived by The Related Group as the first watefront luxury rental buildings South of Fifth Street in the late 1990's.  However, as the real estate market began to heat, The Related Group added a few extra luxury features (such as granite counter tops, washer/dryers, better fixtures, etc.) to the individual units and The Yacht Club was changed from the initial concept of rental property to entry-level luxury waterfront condominiums with a very liberal rental policy.  The condominium documents allow owners to rent their individual units down to a monthly basis- if desired.  This means that The Yacht Club Condominiums are not for everyone, as the building is a very busy property, with a mix of long-term residents, short term tenants, and annual renters comprising a mix of over 360 individual condominiums.  However, almost everyone I know who has lived at The Yacht Club has enjoyed the experience and have very positive things to say about the condominium building.

The main benefits of living and owning at the Yacht Club at Portofino Condomiumiums:

• - Monthly rental policy- allowing for flexibility and strong income potential
• - Low condominium delinquency rates
• - Fantastic South of Fifth neighborhood location directly on the water
• - Great entry-level price points (surrounding buildings such as The Murano at Portofino, Apogee, Murano Grande & Icon are much more expensive)
• - Tasteful and contemporary waterfall lobby designed by award winning designer Tesi Garcia
• - On-site rental office for easy property management
• - Oversized Pool deck with waterfalls, tennis court, jacuzzi, and resort-type amenities
• - Great mix of one, two, and even three bedroom condominiums
• - Large and well equipped gymnasium (with waterfront views)
• - Dock slips available in your backyard (via Miami Beach Marina)
• - Well maintained building with an experienced and stable on-site management and staff
• - Strong property value retention- even in the latest real estate downturn, overall values at the Yacht Club have held up better than in other similar category buildings
• - Incredible views of the downtown Miami skyline, Biscayne Bay, Fisher Island, and the Atlantic Ocean
• - Due to the proximity to South Pointe Park (almost at the southern tip of South Beach), just a five minute walk to the Beach!

View: Yacht Club Condos For Sale

Miami Beach, and most especially South Beach's South of Fifth neighborhood, has become one of the most sought-after places to live in the world.  Recognizing this, the city of Miami Beach planned a multi-million dollar renovation of South Pointe Park, which was completed in 2009.  This extensive renovation included a completely new landscape with a variety of vegetation, Palm Trees, walkways, a multicolored nighttime light display along Government Cut, underground water fountains, the creation of elevated sand dunes, party facilities, and even a children's playground!  Additionally, a new Pier was constructed where you can walk out several hundred feet to truly experience the beauty of the Atlantic Ocean. 

South Pointe Park is surrounded by the several luxury condominium buildings - The Continuum South Beach, Apogee, The Portofino Tower, The South Pointe Tower, and The Murano at Portofino.  These residents can often be spotted taking advantage of the Park's restored beauty and vibrant atmosphere.  After an 18 month period of extensive renovations, South Pointe Park reopened in 2009 and has turned into a local gathering spot, being a great place to socialize and get to know the local "South of Fifth" community.

Top Ten Things to do in South Pointe Park:

• 1.   Jog or walk through the many trails and paths- especially at night to see the multicolored light show along the Intracoastal Waterway 
• 2.   Bring a Yoga Mat and attend one of the free morning and evening yoga classes sponsored by various local fitness centers
• 3.   Watch incredible sunrises and sunsets from atop "South Pointe Hill" (located on East side)
• 4.   SOCIALIZE with the many locals who bring their dogs to the Park for morning and evening walks.  A little known fact is that many locals organize regular get-togethers for other dog owners
• 5.   Watch the amazing sight of cruise ships leaving the Port of Miami around 5pm Friday - Sunday (especially in High Season)
• 6.   Take a day trip to the Beach, the park has several beach access paths on the Eastern Side
• 7.   Bring your kids, nieces, nephews, and any other young adult to play in the water fountains next to Government Cut
• 8.   Go to Smith & Wollensky steakhouse INSIDE the Park- Tip: sit on the second floor for an amazing view of Fisher Island, the Ocean, and the downtown Miami skyline
• 9.   Enjoy the party facilities located on the ground floor- these were built by the city as part of the recent renovations to the entire park
• 10. Celebrity watch!  Recently, I spotted Gloria Estefan, Rosie O'Donnell and their families enjoying a spectacular sunset

Despite the recent financial turbulance in Europe, we're continuing to see strong buyer demand especially from Eastern & Northern European countries.  For example, at The Bentley Bay- A two story Penthouse with private rooftop pool sold at a private auction held late last year (part of a three unit sale).  Despite the Bentley Bay's troubled history and high maintenance fees (currently at $1.19/SF), this is a boutique entry-level luxury waterfront condominium located just North of Miami Beach's "South of Fifth" Neighborhood.  The Bentley Bay features spectacular Bayfront and Atlantic Ocean views, with views directly overlooking Star Island and the Downtown Miami skyline.  A Finnish buyer acquired Bentley Bay condominiums #601, #701 and Penthouse 01 for just under $3,000,000 ($345 per square foot of living space) in a private auction sale last year.  I find it especially interesting that this is a POSITIVE cash flow investment due to the significant rental income that the Bentley Bay commands- while the overall luxury condominium market in Miami Beach continues a steady rebound from the lows witnessed last year.

Also, most recently ANOTHER Finnish buyer acquired one of the most luxurious Penthouses at the Setai South Beach for $15,000,000 ($2,416 per square foot of living space) last week. It should be noted that this Penthouse was on the market since 2006, significantly reduced from $34M earlier this year.  The asking price was $19.9M.  This 4bed/4bath Penthouse also has a private rooftop pool and panoramic views of the Ocean, the City of Miami Beach and the Downtown Miami skyline.

See the Luxury Condos at the Setai South Beach For Sale

A little known fact today is that The Portofino Tower was originally conceived and developed by German Developer Thomas Kramer.  This developer was a true visionary, he was among the first large-scale investors in Miami Beach's South of Fifth Neighborhood, long before it was fashionable.  Like many visionaries and true pioneers, he was also controversial and perhaps ahead of his time.   By the early 1990's, the South of Fifth Street area of Miami Beach was a dilapidated, somewhat dangerous, and architecturally uninteresting part of Miami Beach.  The Art Deco renaissance that began in the early 1980's in South Beach did NOT include the South of Fifth district.  This area was not considered historically significant by Miami Beach's Art Deco Preservation league.  As a result, the renovations and architectural renaissance that took place in the 1980's and early 1990's was NORTH of Fifth Street.  Mr. Kramer had purchased the land which is now occupied by The Portofino Tower, the Yacht Club, Murano at Portofino, Murano Grande, Icon South Beach, and Apogee South Beach and other luxury South Beach real estate properties. 

Thomas Kramer began development of the Portofino Tower, with the construction and sales eventually completed by Jorge Perez' Florida-based Related Group.  Eventually, The Related Group took over the development and construction of the other Kramer-owned South of Fifth Street real estate projects.  The original South Fifth Masterpiece- The Portofino Tower, was completed in 1997, and set a new standard for luxury, scale, and high-end finishes for Miami Beach.  Located adjacent to the South Pointe Tower (and comprising the same master association), the Italian-inspired architectural style and 40+ stories of this luxury condominium building continues to impress local residents and visitors alike.  This is a unique luxury building- with it's own spacious design and mostly larger flow-through luxury condominiums, with first class amenities.  The Portofino Tower is a luxury condominium building located at 300 South Pointe Drive, adjacent to Government Cut and the newly restored South Pointe Park. 

No detail was spared in the construction of the The Portofino Tower, from the unique design of the shared spaces with a two story lobby and a spectacular fitness center in the sky, with incredible views of Downtown Miami, Fisher Island, the Atlantic Ocean, and the city of Miami Beach. The entry way features a 24 hour security booth, and additional security in the lobby Front Desk, Valet Service, as well as a concierge service desk for residents.  Since the building was completed in 1997, I have had the privilege of representing many sellers and buyers.  Almost all of my clients have LOVED living here, so I'd like to share the Top Ten Reasons why they do.

Top 10 Reasons Why The Portofino Tower is one of the most popular South Beach luxury condo buildings:

1.   The strong management staff- Top notch and long-term employees.
2.   Top-tier amenities- including two Tennis Courts, a billiards/entertainment room, and spectacular and remodeled fitness center in the middle of the building with amazing views, complete with a private aerobics studio.
3.   Incredible Views of downtown Miami, Biscayne Bay, Fisher Island, Star Island, and the city of Miami Beach.
4.   Location- South of Fifth Street, across the Street from Joe's Stone Crab, and adjacent to South Pointe Park.
5.   Beautiful Kitchens- featuring Thermador Appliances, high end cabinetry, and large granite countertops in every condominium.
6.   Hurricane Impact Windows throughout the entire property.  This one feature puts this condo building one notch above all others built prior to the passage of the stricter construction codes of 2001.
7.   The separation of traffic among towers- with elevators opening to semi-private and private foyers (in select condo units).
8.   Financial Stability- There have been very few short sales in the building in the past year, yet the condo association is well managed and has delinquency rates under 5%, with strong reserves.  Maintenance fees actually declined slightly in the past year.
9.    Active Social Committees- The Board of Directors and management organize semi-regular social functions aimed at creating a sense of community among the full and part-time residents.
10.  Flow-through & open, large flooroplans- Most condominiums in the building have two large terraces on opposite sides of the building featuring incredible views of both sunrises and sunsets.

Icon South Beach paired developer Jorge Perez' Related Group with the contemporary design genius of Philippe Starck, and brought innovative concepts where the original owners were able to choose from four different interior design packages. These decorpackages included options such as flooring, lighting, closet systems, countertops, custom lighting, window treatments, and other design amenities in individual condos.  The Icon South Beach condominium was conceived as a contemporary follow up to The Murano Grande.  A unique luxury building- with it's own design, architectural style, and amenities-  located at 450 Alton Road, just South of Fifth Street. 

Located North of the Murano Grande, Icon Miami Beach consists of two towers with incredible views of Downtown Miami, the city of Miami Beach, the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay. The condoniminium building consists of One, two and three bedroom floorplans, all of which are available all with floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding glass doors leading to oversized terraces.  Featuring the contemporary and minimalist decor of Philippe Starck, Icon South Beach features two pools, one of the largest private fitness centers in all of Miami Beach, a private library, and many other amenities such as private massage rooms, and private his and her locker rooms.  Located in the prestigious South of Fifth Street neighborhood, adjacent to the Miami Beach marina and the recently completed Fifth and Alton Shopping Center. This is one of the most spectacular locations and one ofSouth Beach's hottest addresses.  Residents are just five minutes away from the Beach, South Pointe Park, and even Publix supermarket!

This is by far one of the most popular buildings in all of Miami Beach, especially with the New York and East Coast"transplants". Icon Miami Beach tends to be particularly favored by the upwardly mobile and highly successful "Gen X" and "Gen Y" hip crowd that enjoys the many social benefits that this contemporary condo buildings offers its residents.  The original vision of "Where you live is who you are", as conceived by Philippe Starck, is definitely reflected in Icon's younger residents today. 

Top 10 Reasons why Icon South Beach is one of the most popular and "Hip" Miami Beach luxury condo buildings:

1.   A strong social environment, with a beautiful bar and poolside food and beverage services.
2.   Top-tier amenities- including a private lap pool, beautiful infinity pool deck, and a contemporary and  oversized fitness center.
3.   Incredible Views of downtown Miami, Biscayne Bay, Fisher Island, Star Island, and the city of Miami Beach.
4.   Location- South of Fifth Street yet right next to the Miami Beach marina and the Fifth & Alton Shopping Center.
5.   Amazing kitchens- Featuring Miele Appliances, high end cabinetry, and large granite countertops in every condominium.
6.   Hurricane Impact Windows throughout the entire property.  This one feature puts this condo building one notch above all others built prior to the passage of the stricter construction codes of 2001.
7.   The separation of traffic among two towers- with elevators opening to semi-private foyers (in most cases).
8.  Financial Stability- There have been short sales in the building in the past year, yet the condo association is well managed and has reduced delinquency rates to under 5% and has strong reserves.
9.  Active Social Committees- The Board of Directors and management organize semi-regular social functions aimed at creating a sense of community among full and part-time residents.
10. Large Terraces- Every two and three bedroom condominium in the building has surprisingly large terraces, with all condos facing the Bay having extra large wrap around balconies.

The Murano Grande was conceived as a larger follow up to The Related Group's original South Fifth Masterpiece- The Murano at Portofino.  A unique luxury building- with it's own design, architectural style, and amenities- the Murano Grande South Beach is a  luxury condominium building located at 400 Alton Road, just South of Fifth Street. 

No detail was spared in the construction of the Murano Grande, from the unique design of the shared spaces (conceived by The Rockwell Group), to the form and modern layout of the two story lobby.  The Murano Grande evokes a contemporary feel, with a strong emphasis on the preservation of large open spaces.  The lobby features a 24 hour security desk, as well as a concierge service desk.  Since the building was completed in 2003, I have had the priviledge of representing many of it's sellers and buyers.  Almost all of my clients have LOVED living here.

10 Reasons why The Murano Grande South Beach is one of the most popular Miami Beach luxury condo buildings:

• 1.  The strong management staff- Top notch and long-term employees.
• 2.  Top-tier amenities- including Tennis Courts, beautiful waterfall pool deck, and a well appointed gymnasium.
• 3.  Incredible Views of downtown Miami, Biscayne Bay, Fisher Island, Star Island, and the city of Miami Beach.
• 4.  Location- South of Fifth Street yet right next to the Miami Beach marina and the Fifth & Alton Shopping Center.
• 5.  Amazing kitchens- Featuring Miele Appliances, high end cabinetry, and large granite countertops in every condominium.
• 6.  Hurricane Impact Windows throughout the entire property.  This one feature puts this condo building one notch above all others built prior to the passage of the stricter construction codes of 2001.
• 7.  The separation of traffic among three towers- with elevators opening to semi-private and private foyers.
• 8.  Financial Stability- There have been short sales in the building in the past year, yet the condo association is well managed and has reduced delinquency rates to under 5% and has strong reserves.
• 9.  Active Social Committees- The Board of Directors and management organize semi-regular social functions aimed at creating a sense of community among full and part-time residents.
• 10. Large Terraces- Every condominium in the building has surprisingly large terraces, with all condos facing the Bay having extra large wrap around balconies.

Currently there are 40 condos available for sale at the Murano Grande. View the Listings.