View Larger Map South Beach FL Real Estate... Local(SoBe) South Beach FL Condo, Home & SoBe Area Information     South Beach Florida's famously photographed Ocean Drive, faces a wide lively beach and is lined with historic Art Deco buildings that make South Beach FL extremely popular. Friendly and fashionable hotels have taken up in the cheerfully painted masterpieces, their vivacious cafés spilling onto the sidewalk with hip clientele, wannabe fashion model servers, and great Latin tunes. A block off Ocean Drive, all the night clubs and bars pick up the tempo as the evening progresses. Edgy art galleries and museums, trendy restaurants and the most modern of restored hotels contribute to South Beach Florida´s reputation as it follows Collins Avenue along the Miami Beach Golden Mile, and to the newly fashionable neighborhoods of Miami Beach FL, Bal Harbour real estate, Sunny Isles real estate and on the mainland city of Aventura. Here the location destination of South Beach FL offers scores of activities, fashionable hotels, spas and a golf resort to provide accommodation for the most discriminative. South of Fifth (SoFi) begins the short span of highly desirable residences.    The Front Porch Cafe at The Penguin Hotel is a must and locals favorite!   Miami Beach FL is one of the nation´s most well rounded metropolitan destinations due to its arts scene, family attractions, shopping and the most famous hot spot of South Beach. Blessed with mild climates year round averaging 85 degrees and unrivaled ocean access, Miami Beach FL real estate is also the sought after international amusement destination. Ranked the nation´s #1 Healthiest City by Natural Health Magazine, Miami Beach FL caters to the action oriented visitor from around the globe in part with some of the world's top golf, tennis and sporting facilities. Add sparkling waters from ocean to bay that are a magnet for boating enthusiasts, divers, fishermen and water sports fanatics to the mix to see why Miami Beach is the number one choice for active travelers of all ages and skill levels.   But where do you start in South Beach Florida? South Beach streets are often busy, some of its events attract large crowds, and only a few days can leave more to choose from than you have time for. Knowing the activity options in advance and how to manage your time and movements to and from is essential South Beach planning. Miami Beach FL Real Estate is a city closely tied with the Atlantic ocean it sits beside and no doubt it´s these waters and miles of white sandy beaches that draw you to the location. You can easily get out on the water from a variety of ways in proximity to the city shores, whether it be jet skiing in Biscayne Bay, kite surfing in Key Biscayne or sailing along the Miami Harbor.    Along the Miami beaches including South Beach, you'll find concession stands operating jet skis, the beachfront hotels & tourist stands along Collins Avenue and Ocean Drive offering evening cruises, parasailing trips, and many have windsurfing and other water sports. If you're staying along the ocean, check with your hotel concierge about activities on their stretch of beach or nearby affiliated operators that you can contact to reserve equipment or take lessons. Different locations on and around Miami Beach FL real estate will produce different conditions for water sports. Windsurfing and Kite Boarding for instance, is found at Biscayne Bay off the Rickenbacker Causeway and has winds that usually blow side onshore, and the water stays fairly shallow allowing even a beginner to walk his way back to shore if necessary. An amazing experiece awaits! South Beach Palms lining Ocean Drive on Lummus Park at dusk.   If you want to go further ahead continue toward Key Biscayne to spots like Hobie Beach, where operators like Sailboards Miami can provide you a two hour board lesson if you´re new to the sport. After lessons, you can rent your own board and enjoy the fun. The short drive down toward Key Biscayne is itself a unique experience as you expand fantastic views of Miami´s vast skyline and even closer by beneath you, Biscayne Bays surfaces alive with sailboats kite surfers, jet skiers, or people just fishing from the boats and bridges. The biggest collection of rental outlets for jet skis and kite boards are found at Virginia Key along the way to Key Biscayne. Crandon Park  is a focal point for water activities of all kind at the entry to Key Biscayne. This two mile long public beach also has its own full service marina and restaurants just a short drive from the beach.    While there in the evening you must try The Rusty Pelican restaurant, one of my favorites. Not unexpectedly, since the city itself is an easy drive, many people make a day of coming to this charming but accessible area. The Park is a launching spot for kayaking and snorkeling outings organized by Miami Dade Park and Recreation Department through its eco adventure programs. On some of these environmentalist guided trips, you kayak out to various wreck sites and underwater preserves off the Key and snorkel off to explore the diverse marine life that populates the dense sea grass beds, sand flats and wreckage spots. Local inhabitants you might observe here about range from Spotted Leopard Rays to Bottle nosed Dolphins, sponges, soft corals to enormous Puffer fish and even Gray Angelfish.   So you´re up for some deeper and lengthier underwater discovery? The scuba diving opportunities are also abundant around Miami waters, thanks to the plethora of man made reefs. Check with the local dive shop at 858 Washington Avenue to get you out on structured weekend dives to the 10 designated offshore artificial reef sites, along with explorations of some offshore wreck sites. The Miami area has one of the largest artificial reef programs in the world in addition to all the natural sites. Fish flock to more than thirty shipwrecks, tanks, limestone and other structures which have been sunk over the past 40 years off Miami's coast, as far south as Florida City and north to Sunny Isles real estate. Most sites are located just a few miles offshore, in less than 130 feet of water, providing great diving for all levels. One of the most popular routes is the Wreck Trek, located off Miami Beach, just north of the Art Deco District. Here, divers can explore the 85 foot tug Patricia, the 100 foot steel fishing vessel Miss Karline, and an old radio antenna welded into 19 pyramids. click here for South Beach New Construction Opportunities There are still good opportunities on South Beach new construction as developers now have many incentives and programs available to benefit the buyer. However, new construction can sometimes be more expensive than resales with today's construction costs vs. excellent inventory to choose from. The differences with new construction may not outweigh the cost differences. Resale pricing is now very affordable and far superior to reproduction costs including new SoBe construction. South Beach FL Real Estate Premier Luxury Oceanfront Condos Apogee, Capri, Continuum, Il Villaggio, Setai, Fountainbleau, Murano at Portofino, Yacht Club at Portofino, Bentley Bay, Bentley Beach, Drake, Barbizon Beach Club, 1500 Condos, Netherlands, Flamingo, Waverly, Mirador Towers, Mondrian, Montclair Lofts If your a die hard surfer you´ll find that while this coastal area of South Florida does not have the great waves and cross currents to match those along the Pacific coast, there are still some respectable surfing conditions along our southern coastline.   Getting you on your way to dive, surf, or windsurf adventure are plenty of well outfitted instructors around the city of South Beach and its external areas. South Beach Dive and Surf, for instance, is a renowned PADI Five Star facility located in the heart of South Beach and within walking distance to most hotels. This full service shop provides diving gear and instruction from which you can obtain your certification over the course of a weekend. They also cater to the surfing crowd with a full range of surfboards and surfing accessories. They offer surf lessons and even a 24 hour surf report updated daily. In review of surf spots of Miami Beach, the swells at Bal Harbour Inlet (102nd Street), Haulover Beach (105th Street) and South Pointe at South Beach (1st Street) are the prevalent and most popular locals spot to surf. On certain windy days we may see five to seven foot waves roll in off the beach between First and Third Streets in South Beach. Expect a crowd and have cameras ready.     One of the most desirable outdoor activities of South Beach FL is of course, rollerblading along the world famous Ocean Drive which tends to be mostly about your physical shape than the skating form you display. If you have no skates with you then you can rent a pair from Fritz's Skate Shop (just off Lincoln Road at Washington Avenue) then cruise the path that leads the way. The best beachside skating is the Lummus Park section from 5th through 15th streets, where other benefit are the cafés across the street that make for the perfect recharge break.   Lummus Park is located from 5th to 15th Street on Ocean Drive. On a sunny day just about any stretch of sand in South Beach FL will be packed with locals & tourists. And this ten block Lummus Park area is no exception. The vista is a postcard, shaded with palm trees, lined with a coral rock wall, and adjacent to Art Deco buildings. Since this area attracts tourists and locals, many consider it the quintessential "South Beach," with a place for everyone. This oceanfront stretch recently received a facelift, widening sidewalks, adding landscaping, bike racks, trash receptacles, and benches, and revamping restroom facilities... now it's even better than before.    If you are one of those dedicated to fitness and refuse to leave the gym behind at home, then get a taste of how South Beach does it at the brand new Equinox Fitness Club in South Beach (5th & Collins) or at Crunch Fitness (13th & Washington) or the David Barton gym located at the Gansevoort Hotel. Among the amenities at Equinox are a 7,000 square foot weight training gym, three group exercise studios, a 50 piece cardiovascular center, and even a Spa with all the massage and treatment varieties that can reenergize you before or after a night on the town or any other of your Miami Beach daytime adventures.     For the athletic minded tennis enthusiast, there are public tennis courts covering the range of surfaces from clay to grass and the prestige of playing at the Key Biscayne Tennis Association where the state of the art Crandon Tennis Center hosts the NASDAQ 100 Tennis Championships in March, as the rest of the year its flawless courts are open to the public, along with countless other well kept tennis venues throughout Miami like Flamingo Park.    South Beach FL real estate is again incredibly hot and some of the most attractive investment property available in the state with 40 to 50% depreciation since the earlier boom. Many people will agree South Beach FL has a very bright future ahead. People come from all over the world to live & party with the models and celebrity stars. South Beach offers a night life like nowhere else in the world. There are more clubs, restaurants and bars concentrated into a small area than you will ever see in any other city. The clubs, restaurants and bars are always full and the party scene is part of what has made South Beach such a fun place for people to visit and live.    South Beach FL real estate is concentrated into a twenty two block area. You will find everything from multi million dollar high rise condos, to small three and four story art deco buildings in the heart including lower priced South Beach condos. This diversity and culture is what makes South Beach FL real estate so appealing to such a wide group of people of all ages. Beyond the day´s radiant sun, surf and sand, discover Miami Beaches rich history as the entertainment and cultural destination, from world famous Art Deco & MiMo architecture to the world renowned nightclubs to designer fashions on Lincoln Road and Collins Avenue.   Collins Avenue is where you'll find great local shopping such as Armani, Kenneth Cole, Gap, Steve Madden, Ralph Lauren, Quicksilver, Urban Outfitters and many more. Then walk down Ocean Drive where South Beach comes alive around the clock. South Beach FL real estate boasts a very large variety of restaurants and shopping to consume you day after day. My favorite restaurant on Ocean Drive is the Front Porch Cafe off 14th and Ocean Drive just under the Penguin Condo Hotel. Call me for lunch or breakfast!  While here in SoBe check out Lincoln Road for original outdoor shopping and dining.   During the Great Depression, Pan American Airways launched an era of modern aviation with "Flying Clippers" from Miami's Dinner Key. Even then, Pan Am advertised Miami as the "Gateway to the Americas."   Today Greater Miami has overtaken New York's JFK as the nation's leading gateway for international arrivals with 5.5 million international travelers arriving here in the U.S. through MIA in 1995. During the depression another group, predominantly Jewish, came to Miami Beach and built a vast number of boutique hotels with perfect modern lines throughout Collins Avenue and Ocean Drive. This building boom helped bring the area of Miami Beach out of the depression and forty plus years later has become the world famous Art Deco District, including the internationally renowned area of South Beach Florida.     The South Beach FL condos in the art deco district of South Beach have been undergoing major renovations. Since there are laws in place that prohibit tearing down any art deco structures, developers have no choice but to refurbish existing structures into modern, upbeat and innovative conversions. Most of the art deco buildings are from the 1940´s and 1950´s and maintain that original style from the curb appeal, to the interior finishes of only the best in modern design styles. South Beach FL real estate is home to one of the largest marinas in all of Miami. Located adjacent to Government Cut, with no fixed bridges and plenty of deep water, Miami Beach Marina affords easy accessibility to great fishing...sailing...and cruising. The famous Art Deco District is nearby with exciting shopping and the night life of our trendy South Beach FL location.      Perhaps ahead of his time, developer John Hinson took a chance by building South Pointe Towers in 1987 on the site where a dog racing track once stood. The 25 story structure was the first luxury high rise condo built in South of Fifth "SoFi" and promptly lost him $7 million. From the Continuum to Icon South Beach, Bentley Bay to the Flamingo, Murano at Portofino to Murano Grande, Roney Palace to Il Villaggio you will find every view and floor plan you could ever dream & hope for.  With direct water views of the Atlantic Ocean to views of Fisher  Island, the Downtown Miami skyline, the cruise ships in Government Cut coming in and out of port, Biscayne Bay and Star Island, you will soon realize you've just attained a perfect piece of paradise. Fisher Island is one of the Nation's most priciest zip codes with the most expensive Miami condo available here today priced at $30M(5 BR) followed by a South Beach FL condo at Apogee priced at $22M (6 BR). The port of Miami offers cruise ship vacations with major import & export throughout the world.    With 400 boat slips, Miami Beach Marina provides plenty of dock space for vessels up to 250 feet. Slips are completed with fresh water, electricity, telephone and cable hook ups. South Beach FL condos are within walking distance to anything & everything you could possibly need. You can walk, bike, skate or rollerblade to the beach within minutes and bask in the warm Florida sun. If you´re not a beach person, there are plenty of other things to do during the day. There's so much going on today in Miami Beach, you'll need an extra hour or two to enjoy everything that makes Miami such a vibrant destination.  As the world's elite playground, South Beach FL promises a 26 hour day... And whether you're an arts enthusiast, food junkie, couture collector, socialite or sun worshiper, there are plenty of great options for where you can spend that extra few hours (or at least you'll wish you had).   In the early 90's South Beach´s posh lifestyle and infamous nightlife put it on the map as the destination for late night soirees drawing in scenesters and fashionistas from all over the globe. While the South Beach FL party scene cranks up even higher, today the area has also transformed into a daytime vacation paradise. The forever summer climate, white sandy beach and endless outdoor activities make daytime just as entertaining as the nightlife after the sun goes down.     South Beach FL condos have seen a huge boom in new construction projects. The area South of Fifth (SoFi) Street now has some of the most luxurious condos in the world and has a true neighborhood feel. Tree lined sidewalks provide shade for pedestrians, joggers, and dog walkers, great restaurants abound within walking distance, and despite the presence of towering buildings around the area's perimeter, the feel is anything but oppressive.      Needless to say, this thriving waterfront community has real estate which many now believe to be highly affordable. If you would like to review additional local market conditions for South Beach FL real estate simply contact me today. 5th Street heading west with Icon South Beach and Bentley Bay straight ahead.   I'm an experienced real estate professional having over 7 years marketing & selling experience in the South Beach FL real estate arena. For local honesty and knowledgeable service in the South Beach FL real estate market, contact me directly at 1.888.383.7326 or by LIVE Chat.  If you'd like a detailed statistics & trends report specific for your South Beach FL condo building, contact me today! Barton G. bartong .com 1427 West Avenue 305.672.8881 The Press Room pressroommiami .com 1233 Lincoln Rd 305.672.5850 Automatic Slims 1216 Washington Ave 305.695.0795 Novecento bistronovecento .com 1080 Alton Road 305.531.0900 Hofbrau Beerhall hofbraumiami .com 943 Lincoln Road 305.538.8066 Love Hate lovehatemiami .com Olivers 959 West Avenue 305.535.3050 Taste Bakery & Cafe tastebakeryandcafe .com 900 Alton Road 305.695.9930 Rock Bar 1906 Collins Ave 305.538.7171 Lime Restaurant & Grill limefreshmexicangrill .com 1439 Alton Road 305.532.5463 Epicure Market  1674 Alton Road 305.672.0385 Lucky Strike Lanes bowlluckystrike .com 1691 Michigan Avenue 305.532.0307 Gourmet Carrot 959 West Avenue 305.534.4211 Wild Oats Market  wildoats .com 1020 Alton Rd 305.532.1707 Regal Cinema Lincoln Road regalcinemas .com 1100 Lincoln Rd 305.674.6766 Einstein Bros  einsteinbros .com 1500 Alton Road 305.534.4003 Golds Gym goldsgym .com 1400 Alton Road 305.538.4653 Bar B Que Beach 14th & Washington 305.538.7201 Front Porch Cafe' caribbean 305.531.8300 Ishq Indian Cuisine 305.532.4747 Wet Willies Frozen Drinks 305.532.5650 click here for South Beach New Construction Opportunities There are still good opportunities on South Beach new construction as developers now have many incentives and programs available to benefit the buyer. However, new construction can sometimes be more expensive than resales with today's construction costs vs. excellent inventory to choose from. The difference with pre construction may not outweigh the cost differences. Resale pricing is now very affordable and superior to reproduction costs. South Beach FL Real Estate I South Beach FL Luxury Oceanfront Condos Apogee, Capri, Continuum, Il Villaggio, Setai, Fountainbleau, Murano at Portofino, Yacht Club at Portofino, Bentley Bay, Bentley Beach, Drake, Barbizon Beach Club, 1500 Condos, Netherlands, Flamingo, Waverly, Mirador Towers, Mondrian, Montclair Lofts 1.888.38.DREAM (37326) South Beach FL Real Estate Resource  Featured Oceanfront South Beach FL Condo Featured Oceanfront South Beach FL Condo Click Here to go Back to the Home Page