I was on my way to Marina Blue Condo today to pick up something from the management when I noticed a ton of black smoke nearby. Luckily I had my camera with me and got to the scene just before the Firefighters got to the scene. A short school bus was completely engulfed in flames just steps away from the American Airlines Arena. The police worked quickly to keep everyone away. As I was standing nearby I heard a few loud pops (assuming it was probably the tires popping). It was unclear if anyone was still inside at the time of the fire but I think everyone got of the bus immediately before most of the damage, thank GOD

Here is the video in HD:

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MARQUIS is here! Well almost. Marquis Condo is just a few weeks away from beginning closings and during the last week I had a few chances to get into the building and get my fix. I have been dying to get into this building. Marquis is located at 1100 Biscayne Blvd and stands 67 stories tall (the second tallest residential building in Miami, behind the Four Seasons) across from Museum Park and Biscayne Bay. I was extremely excited to finally get in with my clients over the last week to look at many of the floorplans. I had a chance to preview 1 bedroom with dens, 2 bedrooms, 3 bedrooms and even an incredible 4 bedroom. Marquis is the last Downtown Miami Condo to open and the last in the Biscayne Wall which consists of Ten Museum Park, Marina Blue and 900 Biscayne Bay. Unlike many of the other developments built in Miami recently, Marquis includes only 306 exclusive residences and a boutique hotel within the building. The Hotel is named TEMPO Miami and is a RockResorts® Hotel. This is a great feature for when you have visiting friends from out of town. You can put them up in the hotel and still be close enough. The hotel only consists of 56 rooms and is located between the 3rd and 14th floors so I wouldn’t expect the hotel patrons to be in the way of the full time residents of Marquis. Marquis also will house a signature restaurant and I hear that a major chef is coming to the building. I won’t disclose who until it’s official but its big! So the first impression I had of the building was as I entered the lobby. There is a valet entrance with separate lobbies for the residents and also for the hotel. As we entered the lobby I noticed that every inch of the lobby was covered in some material. The walls were clad with Marble, Stone and Wood. A great feature is the private elevators to most lines in the building. We took the private elevator up to one of the floors and we took a look at the two bedroom one-story units which was a flow through unit offering both East and West views like most units in the building. I also was able to see a huge 4 bedroom on the North East corner and a large 3 bedroom on the South East corner. The views were mind-blowing from all units. The kitchens were very sleek with all Viking appliances, and the spacious master baths were appointed with Duravit and KWC fixtures. The terraces were huge and all living spaces had minimum 10-foot ceilings with 20-foot ceilings in some areas. The interior doors were also impressive, they went all the way up to the ceiling. Anyway here are the photos:

Marquis Lobby:

South Views from Marquis:

North Views from Marquis:

Marquis Kitchens:

Marquis Baths:

Marquis just WOW!

For showings of Marquis call me at 305-503-6183 – Samir Patel – Miami Condo Realty, Inc.

Call me today to get the best deal on the market. Waterfront Quantum on the Bay with never before available prices. Prices much below 5 years ago. This is the last of the inventory in Quantum on the Bay. Limited deals are available for qualified buyers! Quantum on the Bay is Fannie-Mae approved so you should have no problems closing with a mortgage. We have only a few remaining units.

Here are photos of Quantum on the Bay:

• 1 bedrooms available from below $200,000
• 1 Bedroom + Den from below $240,000
• 2 Bedroom from below $300,000
• 2 Bedroom + Den from below $360,000
• 3 Bedrooms from below $400,000

These prices are only available to qualified buyers for this week. So do not hessitate to contact me. Call me for showings @ 305-503-6183 – Samir Patel, Licensed Real Estate Broker – Miami Condo Realty, Inc.

In October I had my first sneak peek of Everglades on the Bay. Everglades on the Bay is a brand new luxury condominium development in Downtown Miami directly across from Bayfront Park. The development consists of twin towers standing 49-stories tall and consists of many different types of units including lofts, flats, penthouses and studios. The views from Everglades on the Bay are quite impressive but I wish they had used more glass throughout the building. Anyway take a look for yourself at our photos:

A few of the features of Everglades on the Bay are a Fully equipped multi-function business center, State-of-the-art spa and fitness center, Private men’s and ladies’ saunas, steam rooms, a 100,000 square foot, 8th floor amenity deck, Ground level retail, Billiard room and more. For units available at Everglades on the Bay call Samir Patel at 305-213-0336. For listings of Everglades on the Bay Rentals goto http://www.miamicondorealty.com/everglades-on-the-bay/

Everglades on the Bay Views:

Everglades on the Bay Kitchens:

Everglades on the Bay Baths:

Everglades on the Bay Pool Deck:

Lendco Florida LLC has acquired 56 units in Marina Blue Condo according to South Florida Business Journal and Miami-Dade County public records. The transaction was valued at $15.7 million. This is the second bulk deal to take place in the 516-unit Marina Blue Condominium in the last six months and this would total the closed units at 482 resulting in a 93% closing rate. Chicago based Corus Bank has issued a satisfaction of mortgage notice on its first mortgage to the developer of Marina Blue. In December of 2008 the developer sold 60 units in a bulk sale to Singer Island based Welcome Bay Inc. for $13 million.

This is good news for the residents of Marina Blue. Residents can breathe a little easier knowing that most of the units are now closed. Financing for new buyers in the building has been plagued due to these bulk deals and in conforming to Fannie-Mae guidelines. For the short-term new buyers into this building will be required to pay all cash or acquire a Non-Fannie loan at above market rates. I expect some of the Fannie-Mae guidelines to be rolled back eventually but we don’t know when.

Here are photos from Marina Blue: