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    A Mortgage Mogul’s Waterfront Estate in South Florida Just Sold for a Record $30 Million

    Just 40 days after it hit the South Florida real estate market with a hefty $33 million ask, a lavish waterfront home in Fort Lauderdale’s gated Harbor Beach enclave already has sold for the still substantial amount of $30 million, as first reported by The Wall Street Journal.

    Broward County’s priciest real estate transaction so far this year, the deal also set a square footage price record for the area at $3,174 per square foot.

    But it’s not quite the most ever paid for a home in the region nestled between Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties. That milestone occurred this past August, when a billionaire self-storage tycoon doled out $32.5 million for a 13,060-square-foot waterfront spec mansion in the Lauderdale Harbours community.

    Though the buyer is currently unknown, records show the seller of the Harbor Beach spread is Ronald Leonhardt Jr., the founder, president and CEO of Ohio-based CrossCountry Mortgage, who paid hotelier Mikhail Avrutin $23 million for the property a little more than two years ago.

    The double-height living area is spotlighted by a massive marble fireplace, walls of glass and an adjacent 200-bottle wine display.

    Daniel Petroni

    Completed on spec in 2021 by Randall Stofft Architects and Sarkela Corp., the mansion rests on a third of an acre, amid 120 feet of water frontage on the eastern side of the Intracoastal Waterway, and offers six bedrooms and nine baths sprawled across almost 9,500 square feet of two-level living space decked out with Duchateau oak floors, Terzani light fixtures, and walls of glass overlooking picturesque water and skyline views.

    Posh amenities range from a glassy wine display that holds 200 bottles and wet bar-equipped game room/lounge, to a roof deck and dock big enough to accommodate a mega-yacht.

    Additional highlights include a living room sporting a soaring marble fireplace, along with a “show” kitchen equipped with Italian cabinetry, an eat-in island, top-tier appliances, a breakfast nook and an additional prep kitchen. There’s also a sumptuous upstairs master retreat boasting a fireside sitting area and balcony, as well as dual closets and baths.

    The master retreat comes complete with two baths, including this one sporting a large oval soaking tub with a view.

    Daniel Petroni

    Outdoors, the grounds host a covered terrace ideal for al fresco entertaining, a barbecue area and lap pool embellished with fire features; and rounding it all out are a Crestron smart-home system, full-home generator and two attached garages with room for four vehicles, plus access to a residents-only beach club that has its own private marina.

    No stranger to the South Florida real estate market, Leonhardt also flipped two neighboring waterfront homes on Miami Beach’s Hibiscus Island in 2021 for an impressive $27 million.

    The listing was held by Chad Carroll of Compass; Brady Thrasher of Re/Max repped the buyer.

    Click here for more photos of the Laguna Drive estate.

    Daniel Petroni More

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    Rick Ross Just Dropped $35 Million on a Waterfront Mansion on Miami’s Star Island

    Rick Ross may have a track entitled “I’m Not a Star,” but he is the newest resident of Miami’s Star Island.

    Last month, it was reported that The Boss had his eyes on a waterfront estate on the exclusive island, and this week, the “Hustlin” rapper officially closed on the residence in question. Rozay threw down a whopping $35 million for the 40,000-square-foot mega-mansion that’s located near the middle of the star-studded and guard-gated enclave. From Diddy to billionaire Ken Griffen to Jennifer Lopez and Gloria Estefan, scads of high rollers maintain opulent abodes here. And, with only 30 homes on the island, it’s pretty impressive that the record exec was able to snag himself a coveted piece of the Star Island pie.

    “We are so excited to have hit a high note in finding the right buyer for this spectacular property so quickly after listing it,” said Jill Eber of The Jills Zeder Group, who represented the seller alongside colleagues Jill Hertzberg, Felise Eber, and Fabio Lopes. “There is only one Star Island, and we know the buyer will be so happy with his new residence on the much-sought-after island.” Kimberly Knausz with ONE Sotheby’s International Realty and Tawanda Roberts of Florida Realty of Miami represented Ross.

    Rapper Rick Ross just dropped $35 million on a mansion on Star Island in Miami

    The Jills Zeder Group/1 Oak Studios

    “He instantly fell in love with the grand entry, it has a very long driveway stretching towards the mansion that creates an air of real luxury,” added Knausz. “The architecture also played a part as it’s far beyond the ordinary modern home and he plans to enhance it to reflect his personal style.”

    The 12,374-square-foot spread offers up six bedrooms and nine bathrooms, plus a generous 100 feet of water frontage on Biscayne Bay. Currently, there’s a two-car garage on-site, but the Maybach Music Group founder will need way more room than that to fit all of his prized cars. And, when he decides to travel by boat, there’s a 40-foot dock equipped with an electric and water pedestal. Maybe he’ll get that Lamborghini yacht after all—if he hasn’t already.  

    The waterfront estate has views of the ocean and Biscayne Bay

    The Jills Zeder Group/1 Oak Studios

    The record exec is known for throwing his fair share of celeb-laden parties, so the spacious swimming pool, outdoor kitchen, and massive stone terrace should definitely come in handy. Inside, the two-story estate is decked out with a glass-enclosed foyer, a living room with 30-foot ceilings and a custom mahogany fireplace, a media room, and a library. Nearby, the chef’s kitchen is outfitted with granite counters, top-of-the-line appliances, a butler’s pantry, and a separate breakfast room.

    Ross clearly has a taste for the finer things in life so, naturally, the primary suite is fit for rap royalty. Think remote-controlled shutters, a wet bar, two walk-in closets, and dual marble bathrooms.

    Click here to see all the photos of Rick Ross’s Star Island mansion.

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    Cher Once Owned This Waterfront Miami Manse. Now It Can Be Yours for $42.5 Million.

    Here we go again. Another one of Cher’s trophy homes has splashed onto the market.

    The singer-actress has racked up quite the real estate portfolio over the years, and now a Miami mansion that the pop legend owned in the 1990s is up for grabs. The Moorish-meets-Spanish-style estate is located on Florida’s uber-exclusive La Gorce Island, an upscale, guard-gated community with only 29 other waterfront residences.

    Per The Wall Street Journal, the sellers are James Eaton, president of a Canadian private holding company, and his wife, Cecily Eaton. The couple coughed up a cool $17 million for the 12,450-square-foot spread back in 2020, a heck of a lot more than the $1.5 million Cher paid in 1993.

    Cher’s former mansion on La Gorce Island in Miami newly listed for $42.5 million

    Become Legendary/Dina Goldentayer

    The Eatons spent much of the last three years renovating the place, including raising some of the ceilings and turning a covered terrace into a brand-new dining room and sitting area. Altogether, the sprawling abode comprises six bedrooms, nine bathrooms, and, most importantly, 158 feet of frontage on Biscayne Bay. The views are epic, and boaters will appreciate that they can park their yacht in the backyard.

    Even though the “Strong Enough” singer parted ways with the sumptuous spread some 30 years ago, it sports a ton of opulent features that the so-called Goddess of Pop would no doubt approve of. For starters, the double-height foyer makes a lasting first impression with soaring 19-foot ceilings and grand dual staircases. Elsewhere, the chef’s kitchen is kitted out with gold-toned finishes, and the primary suite is complete with a marble-clad en suite bath and a private terrace. In true Queen of Camp fashion, there’s also an Art Deco-style bar area that’s wrapped in abstract patterned custom wallpaper.

    The home has been renovated and includes an Art Deco-themed bar with custom wallpaper

    Become Legendary/Dina Goldentayer

    The many deluxe amenities help to explain the hefty price tag, with a few of the most compelling perks including a top-floor fitness studio, a 50-foot-long swimming pool, and a Palm Beach-inspired pool house. If Cher could actually turn back time, she might’ve kept this swanky sanctuary all to herself.

    Dina Goldentayer with Douglas Elliman has the listing.

    Click here to see all the photos of 64 La Gorce Circle.

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    Tim Hardaway Jr.’s Former Miami Mega-Mansion Hits the Market for $9.1 Million

    South Florida has always been a sunny haven for professional athletes, and at one time, Dallas Mavericks star Tim Hardaway Jr. called Miami Beach home. Now the shooting guard’s former mansion is up for grabs.  

    Listed for a cool $9.1 million, the custom-built estate is located in the guard-gated Normandy Isle neighborhood. Spanning a whopping 5,400 square feet, the South Shore Drive residence has five bedrooms, five and a half baths, and an impressive 60 feet of water frontage. The digs are a boating lover’s delight with a dock and lift directly in the backyard. Plus, petrolheads can park their prized autos in the two-car garage out front.  

    A waterfront mansion in Miami’s Normandy Isle community with a boat dock and lift just listed for $9.1 million

    Become Legendary/Dina Goldentayer

    The NBA player sold the palatial pad back in October 2021. At the time, he offloaded the mase to its new owners for $6.75 million. “They wanted something waterfront, but such inventory in Miami Beach is scarce, so we looked at Normandy Isles, an adjacent and well-established area,” Compass’s Ignacio Villanueva, who represented the sellers, told Mansion Global. “And they loved the modern look of the house, boasting high ceilings, lots of lights, and a roof deck with beautiful views.” 

    The South Florida residence was formerly owned by Dallas Mavericks star Tim Hardaway Jr.

    Become Legendary/Dina Goldentayer

    Inside, the boxy retreat is decked out with design-forward details including oak millwork, tray ceilings, and glossy marble floors. The vibe is super sleek and contemporary—but it really is all about those views. Walls of windows on the first floor face the pool and patio, while upstairs, an expansive primary suite looks right out onto the water. The space is also equipped with an office, a huge walk-in closet, a marble bath, and its own private terrace. Elsewhere, the abode is kitted out with a movie theater, and the open kitchen sports swanky Dornbracht fixtures.  

    The primary bedroom is located on the second floor and faces the water

    Become Legendary/Dina Goldentayer

    If you travel all the way up to the top, there’s a dramatic roof deck that’s perfect for alfresco entertaining. Here, you’ll find a dining area, a small outdoor kitchen with a grill, and perhaps best of all, a hot tub. We imagine this would be the ideal spot to soak up the sunset. 

    Douglas Elliman’s Dina Goldentayer holds the listing. 

    Click here to see all the photos of 672 S Shore Drive. 

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    Tiger Woods and Justin Timberlake Are Teaming Up to Build a 600-Acre Town in Florida

    It’s not every day that a legendary golfer and a global pop star join forces in real estate.

    But that’s exactly what Tiger Woods and Justin Timberlake are doing in their latest venture, a luxury residential community in Wellington, Fla., a popular equestrian destination. The new enclave, aptly dubbed the Wellington, will span 600 acres, with single-family homes, condos, stores, and a hotel near Palm Beach. With a focus on enhancing the area’s equestrian spirit, the proposed development includes doubling the size of the current international showgrounds as well as a nine-figure investment to expand and upgrade other major facilities.

    Nexus Luxury Collection, a developer and hospitality group founded by Woods, Timberlake, and British billionaire Joe Lewis and his Tavistock private investment company, is leading the charge alongside entrepreneur Mark Bellissimo, with plans to start updating the area’s current 18-hole Cypress Golf Course next month, Bloomberg reports.

    An aerial view of Wellington, Fla.

    Getty Images/iStockphoto

    Wellington is usually busiest during the winter months, when equestrian and polo competitions are held throughout the town. Now, however, finance firms and their employees, who moved to the area during the pandemic, are looking to make it their main base but may be looking for more than what’s currently available. The Wellington’s 120,000-square-foot sports-performance facility and a world-class racquet center are just two amenities in development to breathe new life into the town, as well as a 17-acre commercial center for stores, restaurants, and offices. 

    “The programming and the amenities and the lifestyle that you’ve got to deliver 12 months of the year is a little short in this area,” Christopher Anand, Nexus’s CEO and managing partner, told Bloomberg. “We have a real opportunity to redefine what full-time living is for families in South Florida.” 

    Sites for the Wellington’s custom builds will range from a quarter-acre lot to five acres, with pricing starting at $3 million. Completed condos and single-family abodes, meanwhile, will vary between $4 million and $5 million, according to Bloomberg. Those rates might be a steal for some, compared to Palm Beach, where “it’s $10 million to have a conversation” about purchasing a home, Anand says. 

    The developers expects some push back from a few locals as development continues due to the scale of the plan. But Bellissimo, who acquired the land over two decades, hopes his record of doing business in the area will keep things moving forward.

    If you’re an equestrian fan, the Wellington could be for you. Buyers looking for a suburban respite close to their West Palm Beach offices may also be interested. Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates, actor Tommy Lee Jones, and rock legend Bruce Springsteen have all owned homes in Wellington, which is experiencing rapid growth. With no time like the present, you can check out the Wellington website for more details.  More

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    Trans Am Champ Simon Gregg’s $13 Million Florida Manse Comes With a Private Dock—and It’s Up for Grabs

    It looks like three-time Trans Am champion Simon Gregg is shifting gears. The race car driver has put his South Florida mansion on the market, and now the prized pad can be yours. 

    Gregg’s five-bedroom, six-bathroom abode sits right on the border of Palm Beach Gardens and Jupiter. The latter is where A-list professional athletes including Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods also own property. According to records, he paid roughly $9 million for the spread back in 2021. He recently hoisted it back onto the market for a cool $12.8 million with Holly Meyer Lucas of the Meyer Lucas Real Estate Team at Compass. 

    Sited on half an acre, the contemporary residence offers 100 feet of direct frontage on the Intracoastal Waterway. Naturally, there’s a private dock for you to park your yacht or to sit on while you watch the boats pass by. Other outdoor amenities include a summer kitchen, a fire pit, a sparkling swimming pool, and multiple sundecks. Essentially, it’s the perfect place for either entertainment or relaxation.  

    Trans Am champion Simon Gregg just listed his waterfront estate in South Florida for $12.8 million.

    Pelican Pix

    Internally, no expenses were spared in terms of the design. There are expansive floor-to-ceiling windows, a glass-enclosed wine room, and stone flooring throughout that was imported from Italy. The overall aesthetic is modern and minimal, which is a big departure from other addresses in the neighborhood. The kitchen feels super sleek, decked out with top-of-the-line Gaggenau and Miele appliances, a large center island, tons of storage, and even a hidden wet bar. “It’s a treat to show it,” Meyer Lucas told Mansion Global. “There’s no part of the home that’s not aesthetically pleasing, even the laundry room.”  

    The home spans two floors and has primary suites on both levels.

    Pelican Pix

    Elsewhere, a lavish first-level primary suite sports its own covered patio. Plus, the spa-like bathroom comes complete with a freestanding soaking tub, a double vanity, an oversized shower, and a custom walk-in closet. A solid wood floating staircase leads to the second floor and another primary suite. Here, you’ll have your own sitting area (which could double as an office), another custom walk-in dressing room, and en suite. The pièce de résistance, though, is a balcony that looks straight out to the water. It’s a view that can’t be beat. 

    Click here to see all the photos of 14844 Palmwood Road.

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    Baseball Great David Ortiz’s Miami Mansion Hits the Market for $12.5 Million

    While David Ortiz’s MLB career might be over, Big Papi is still taking big swings—the latest being the massive Miami manse he built.

    The former Boston Red Sox slugger has hoisted his home in South Florida’s Pinecrest neighborhood onto the market and for $12.5 million. According to records, the American League All-Star originally bought the one-acre lot back in 2016, the same year he announced his retirement. He then custom-built an uber-modern estate in 2019 and had it decked out with its own state-of-the-art movie theater, an elevator and, wait for it, a sports bar with enough space to mount nine TVs. 

    David “Big Papi” Ortiz is selling his Miami mansion for $12.5 million

    1 OAK Studios / ONE Sotheby’s International Realty

    Altogether, the spread measures a whopping 10,200 square feet and includes five bedrooms and eight bathrooms across two stories. Outdoors, you’ll find a sparkling swimming pool, a spa, shower and summer kitchen. The tropical grounds are also dotted with multiple fire pits that you can cozy up next to, a gazebo, lush greenery and a reflecting pool.  

    Internally, giant full-length windows and soaring high ceilings bring in a ton of extra sun making the whole space feel bright and airy. From the looks of it, it’s clear that the superstar athlete liked to entertain. There are two different living areas to kick back in, an expansive dining room, plus a great room. Naturally, the kitchen has plenty of space to prep for guests with dual refrigerators, a large center island and a walk-in pantry. 

    The primary suite has a hidden TV that drops down from the ceiling

    1 OAK Studios / ONE Sotheby’s International Realty

    Of course, the primary suite is as impressive as the rest of the property, if not more, outfitted with its own sitting area, spa bath, soaking tub and 16-foot shower. Considering there was nowhere to put the TV that wouldn’t interrupt the views, Big Papi decided to install a hidden screen that unfolds straight from the ceiling instead. Pretty clever, huh?  

    Michael Martinez with ONE Sotheby’s International Realty holds the listing. 

    Click here to see all the photos of 9505 SW 63 Court.  

    1 OAK Studios / ONE Sotheby’s International Realty More