Moooi Launch Party

Selling fully furnished South Beach converted condos is not only a cool marketing idea but may be setting a trend. The 1300 Social Club at 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., one of the few original Deco buildings on South Beach with a full-size swimming pool, has been totally renovated with all-new electric, plumbing and hurricane impact windows. All units in the newly “smart” building are prewired for electronics — there are touch-screen wall units and portable hand-held devices to control the AC, television, window shades, surveillance system and in-home entertainment.

Units range from 510 to 713 square feet and are sold move-in ready with furniture and built-in closets, plus window shades, linens, electronics and dishes, etc., as well as extra storage for each unit. Residents have the option of using a full-service management company. The building lobby is planned as a social center for residents with a large flat-screen TV, espresso machine, Wi-Fi and refrigerator. Prices range from $359,000 to $499,000. Christopher Jett of City Center Investments on Lincoln Road in Miami Beach is handling sales.

Rankings and Other Stats To Get Excited About

Whenever the traffic, heat and general craziness become too much to bear, remember that the city of Miami has been named a “Top Ten City of the Future.” The current issue of fDi (Foreign Direct Investment) magazine (a Financial Times publication), ranks Miami number 10 among North American cities of all sizes for the best strategies and resources for economic development. As part of the selection process, nine judges reviewed nominations from 108 cities on more than 60 criteria designed to assess cities’ potential to attract business investment projects. This is the first time that cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico have competed directly against one another in fDi’s Cities of the Future research. For the record, the magazine selected Chicago, Ill., as the number one “Major City of the Future” for its ambitious development plans, massive infrastructure investment, reasonable location costs and energetic regional economy.

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When it comes to staying in or out of the sun, Miami beat out many other cities in a first-of-its-kind survey that identified cities that take sun protection seriously. Believe it or not nearly half (45 percent) of Miamians surveyed did not get a tan last year, versus 35 percent nationally. (Could the high-rises be acting as concrete sun shields?) Miami ranked third (behind Washington, D.C., and New York City) in the American Academy of Dermatology’s RAYS: Your Grade survey designed to educate the public about the dangers of skin cancer — which kills one American almost every hour.

The Academy polled adults in 32 U.S. metropolitan regions spanning 29 states on their knowledge, attitudes and behaviors toward tanning and sun protection. Cities were then ranked based on the percentage of people who scored A’s and B’s. Miami ranks high because area respondents have much better than average attitudes of tanning and sun protection. Some findings: More than two out of five respondents (43 percent) scored A’s and B’s, versus 35 percent nationally. Most are concerned and knowledgeable about skin cancer as it relates to the sun, but not necessarily vigilant when it comes to skin cancer detection (consistent with national findings). More than two-thirds (67 percent) know that you can get skin cancer on parts of your skin that are never exposed to the sun. Miami residents are spending about six hours per week in the sun, less than the overall national average of 8.3 hours per week. To gauge your sun smarts and receive a personalized profile and lifestyle tips, take the survey online at www.aad.org.

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One list where Miami-Dade didn’t rank was in the 10 counties with the highest number of millionaire residents, defined as having $2,167,167 mean net worth (not including their primary residence) with investable assets of $1,442,841. If it’s any consolation, Palm Beach County came in ninth with 71,221. (Los Angeles County was tops with 268,136 millionaires.) According to TNS Global’s annual Affluent Market Research Program, the median age of millionaires is 58 and 45 percent are retired. Forty-six percent of millionaire households own investment real estate such as a second home, third home, rental properties and undeveloped land. Thirty-four percent have a first mortgage on these residences and 25 percent have second mortgages on these additional residences.

Moooi Makes It To Miami

A lively design event last week to launch the first-ever Moooi studio and showroom in the United States turned out to be an all-over sensory experience replete with eye-candy models, contortionists and assorted Miami VIPs. Moooi is the alter ego of Dutch designer Marcel Wanders, Elle Decoration International 2006 designer of the year who flew in from Amsterdam for the occasion. (The company is headquartered in the Netherlands and distributes worldwide.) Moooi’s original and striking furniture line is located within Stephen Lasker’s Abode design studio on the cusp of Wynwood and the Miami Design District. Among the guests at the launch were David Caruso, CSI: Miami star, whose new home in Canyon Ranch Living, Miami Beach will be decorated by Wanders, and Keith Menin of Mondrian South Beach, which shows off Moooi designs in the sales center and interiors.

Promoting Miami Real Estate 

For the third consecutive year, the Realtor Association of Greater Miami and the Beaches will be showcasing local real estate in its Florida Pavilion at SIMA07, the largest international second homes expo in the world. SIMA (Salón Inmobiliario de Madrid), taking place in Madrid, Spain, from May 29 to June 2, spans six pavilions with 800 exhibitors in 100,000-plus square meters of exhibit space and more than 20,000 real estate professionals from over 50 countries participating. Some 160,000 attendees are expected.

RAMB’s exhibit area is part of the Second Homes Pavilion (Booth 6A20 & 6C19) near the main entrance to Pavilion 6. This year’s 488-square-meter Florida Pavilion features 20 exhibits, with Florida companies, agents and developments looking to open new markets, reach foreign investors and high-end buyers, increase unit sales and expand referral networks. RAMB exhibitors will also be part of the International Business Center Market Presentations on Thursday, May 31, from 4 to 5 p.m. The Florida presentation will feature general information on the South Florida real estate market as well as specific information on various properties and projects. Buyers are said to be particularly interested in Florida real estate due to the favorable exchange rate between the euro and the U.S. dollar, market stability, strong appreciation rate, beautiful weather and Miami’s multicultural identity and international appeal. See more details on www.miamire.com

Coming Up

Wednesday, May 23: Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce: 2nd Annual Real Estate event (co-sponsored by The Flamingo South Beach). 10:00 a.m. Business Expo. Noon: Luncheon with panelists Daniel A. Weiss, Tannebaum Weiss Attorneys at Law; Mirielle Enlow, Premier Mortgages; Luis Caballero, Caballero Appraisal Services; James Gonte, A-1 Property Service Company and Bill Traurig, Traurig Insurance. At the Parrot Jungle Island’s Treetop Ballroom, MacArthur Causeway, Miami. Luncheon reservations required. Members $35, nonmembers $45. Call 305-573-4000 or fax to secure line: 305-573-4787.

Helen Hill is a freelance writer specializing in real estate and lifestyle topics. Please send news items on Miami-Dade real estate to hhill@miamisunpost.com.

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