The Madrone, Mission Bay: sold out in record time

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 16:43:23 +0000

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Mission Bay: Where once tumbleweeds tumbled and defunct buildings moldered, a thriving community has emerged, one that’s been developing over the past decade and a half. And part of it is Bosa’s Madrone at Mission Bay, a condo complex that broke SF records for the rapidity with which it sold out.

Composed of two 16-story towers and a total of 329 units, these condos, according to a recent press release from The Mark Company, are 100% spoken for. Despite facing a still recovering economy, The Madrone closed on more than 200 residences by the building’s completion in August 2012. In August, its grand opening month, a total of 97 units closed, making it San Francisco’s fastest selling property (previously, the most units closing escrow in a month was 50 for a single development).

Luxury condos back in demand

San Francisco’s appetite for luxury condos has been reawakened of late, but the dearth of inventory makes satisfaction of that hunger hard to come by. In March of this year, the number of available condos on the MLS was down 32.9% year-over-year, while the median sold price was up 31.6%. The Madrone met the needs of well paid tech, education, and science employees looking for for waterfront 1, 2, and 3 bedroom units with swanky amenities. But the record sell-out of every single condo in the complex is still a striking accomplishment given the price point here: Property records for a sold 2-bedroom unit show a sale price of $1,818,750; and a 3-bed for $1,995,000.

Evolution of a neighborhood

Mission Bay covers 303 acres of land between the San Francisco Bay and Interstate-280. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors established the Mission Bay North and South Redevelopment Project Areas in November 1998, successfully planning the building of the University of California, San Francisco research campus, a state-of-the art UCSF hospital complex, housing and services, all steps away from ATT Park, the home of the San Francisco Giants.

San Francisco, already so dense and tiny, offers few chances for the emergence of a new neighborhood. We asked Alan P. Mark of the Mark Company what he expects next for the area, given this large induction of new, well-monied residents.

There will be a couple of thousand renters moving into Mission Bay within the next couple of years as a number of rental buildings are being delivered. Retail services typically follow. My forecast would be that there will be a mixture of more well known entities and entrepreneurial retailers.

What do you think, readers? We have our established Haight-Ashbury, our Marina, our Pac Heights, each with their identity and unique vibe. Given these latest developments, what will be the flavor and feeling of Mission Bay?

Anna Marie Erwert writes from both the renter and new buyer perspective, having (finally) achieved both statuses. She focuses on national real estate trends, specializing in the San Francisco Bay Area and Pacific Northwest, and writes for SFGate and CurbedSF. Follow Anna on Twitter: @AnnaMarieErwert

Article source: http://blog.sfgate.com/ontheblock/2013/04/19/the-madrone-mission-bay-sold-out-in-record-time/

Defying Gravity: Miami Condos Flying High Again

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 11:26:48 +0000

These cash-heavy buyers are allowing developers to require anywhere from 20 to 80 percent down, which appeases bank and private lenders alike.

“It’s much smaller inventory, which is holding the price point, and further, the deposit structure is much more beneficial to the developer at this point, so we’re back,” said PMG’s Maloney.

Maloney has sold 100 of the 190 units he plans to build in his “Echo” development and that is without even breaking ground. The rest he hopes to entice with flash and fantasy, which is exactly what Miami is all about.

“I believe in the future,” said Argentinean Antonio Aguirre at the Echo party. “The prices are going to come up faster, so today is a great time to buy.”

(Read More: No Money? No Worries. Home Lenders Ease Rules)

At Marina Palms Yacht Club and Residences in North Miami’s Aventura, broken-down boat slips frame two new condo sites, one of which has the concrete beginnings of a first floor that has been standing idle for six years, since the developers went bankrupt.

“There’s an enormous demand. We actually didn’t think the demand would be as strong as it is today,” said Neil Fairman, of Miami-based The Plaza Group, the project’s developer.

The Plaza Group, along with the DevStar group, are getting ready to put up two 25-story towers with a combined 468 units, starting in the $600,000s. The project will include a full-service, 112-slip marina. Half the units in the first tower sold in just the past two months. Fairman said he already has financing proposed from both banks and private hedge funds.

“There’s a lot more scrutiny, they’re going to scrutinize the buyers a great deal, they’re going to scrutinize the developer’s track record. They want people with experience, they want people with hard deposits,” Fairman noted.

Article source: http://www.cnbc.com/id/100568846

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The Madrone, Mission Bay: sold out in record time

Defying Gravity: Miami Condos Flying High Again