South Florida retains its appeal for those in the spotlight, judging from the number of sports stars, actors and musicians making expensive residential deals in recent months.
High-profile trades stretched from waterfront enclaves in Miami to massive mansions in the northernmost reaches of Palm Beach County.
Several members of the Miami Heat got over the team’s NBA Finals loss to the San Antonio Spurs by successfully playing the real estate game.
Heat guard Ray Allen decided buying is better than renting, while recent signee Luol Deng spent big on a home in Miami’s Morningside neighborhood. Meanwhile, teammate Mario Chalmers set out to cash in on the downtown Miami condo he bought from hip hop star Drake. And forward Chris Bosh got a huge loan for his Miami Beach mansion.
Other notable buyers included both halves of former sports power couple Rory McIlroy and Caroline Wozniacki and 1970’s and 80’s hit maker Olivia Newton-John.
On the selling side, Ivana Trump generated a large profit on a Palm Beach home sale that would have made her ex-husband proud. Actor Jeffrey Donovan had to settle for a slight discount from the asking price for his South Beach condo.
Below are some of the most notable local residential transactions since last spring.
While attempting to sell her Palm Beach County mansion, “Grease” star Olivia Newton-John and husband John Easterling picked up a two-bedroom Jupiter Island condo for $550,000 in cash. The unit is located in the Seawatch complex at 19670 Beach Road.
Sharpshooter Ray Allen, the hero of the Miami Heat’s 2013 NBA Finals victory, purchased the Coral Gables manse he was renting from billionaire Miguel Fernandez. Allen paid $11 million for the 10-bedroom, 11,533-square-foot home at 5 Tahiti Beach Island Road.
Not only did golfer Rory McIlroy win two major championships this summer, the Northern Ireland native also scored a three-bedroom, 3,100-square-foot penthouse at Ocean’s Edge in Singer Island. McIlroy paid $2 million for the 5050 North Ocean Drive unit.
McIlroy’s ex-fiancée, Danish tennis star Caroline Wozniacki, spent $1.7 million on a Fisher Island penthouse shortly before the couple called it quits. Wozniacki’s new condo at 2543 Fisher Island Drive has three bedrooms and 1,847 square feet.
One of the newest members of the Miami Heat, Luol Deng, dropped $4.6 million on a waterfront home in Miami’s Morningside neighborhood. The small forward bought a five-bedroom, 3,400-square-foot house at 5925 North Bayshore Drive.
Cuban-American salsa star Willy Chirino got nearly $4.2 million for a 10,416-square-foot mansion at 4400 Island Road in Miami’s Bay Pointe community. Not long after the sale, Chirino paid $2.3 million for a six-bedroom house in Pinecrest.
“Burn Notice” star Jeffrey Donovan hoped to get $2.95 million for his Capri South Beach condo, but the actor ended up receiving $2.55 million. The three-bedroom unit has 2,000 square feet of living space.
Ivana Trump, ex-wife of Donald, banked a substantial profit on the $16.6 million sale of her landmarked Palm Beach home. Trump spent $4.4 million on the 14,000-square-foot house at 102 Jungle Road in 1994.
Champion boxer Floyd Mayweather is eager to sell his 3,000-square-foot penthouse at St. Tropez in Sunny Isles Beach. Just two months after listing the 150 Sunny Isles Boulevard unit for $2.6 million, Mayweather dropped the asking price to $2.3 million.
Miami Heat point guard Mario Chalmers wants $4 million for the downtown Miami condo he purchased from hip hop star Drake for $2.4 million in 2012. The five-bedroom, 5,475-square-foot duplex unit is located on the 49th floor of Marquis Residences.
Songstress Celine Dion still can’t find a buyer for her Jupiter mansion even after slashing the list price by $10 million. The “My Heart Will Go On” singer now wants $62.5 million for the 10,000-square-foot 215 South Beach Road home, which features an entire water park built on more than five acres of beachfront.
Loan Sharks
Golfing legend Greg “The Shark” Norman got a $15 million credit line from Deutsche Bank to help complete a seven-bedroom, 28,000-square-foot manse in Boca Raton. Norman is not building the Le Lac home to live in, however, as the 7.5-acre property is listed at $25 million.
Not long after signing a new five-year contract with the Miami Heat, Chris Bosh notched a $12 million loan from Bank of America for his waterfront Miami Beach home. Bosh paid $12.3 million for the six-bedroom, 12,000-square-foot mansion at 6396 North Bay Road in September 2010.