Photo Tour of 900 Biscayne Bay
May 10, 2008 by Lucas Lechuga
This past week, I had the opportunity to take a very extensive tour of 900 Biscayne Bay. I couldn't wait to see if 900 Biscayne Bay held up to its high expectations. I took a ton of pictures that day and wanted to share them with everyone. Above, you see the nice water feature that greets you as you drive into the valet area at 900 Biscayne Bay.
The lobby at 900 Biscayne Bay is two stories. The first story is for guests entering off the street while the second story welcomes those entering through the valet area. The grand spiral staircase at 900 Biscayne Bay, in the photo above, takes you to the second level.
The Infinity-edge, resort-style pool at 900 Biscayne Bay was beautiful. I'm sure residents will make full use of the large bar behind the pool while sunning themselves as well. There's also a fire pit and hot tub available on the same level.
The lap pool was closed, so unfortunately I wasn't able to get some laps in while my clients were talking about the great amenities that 900 Biscayne Bay has to offer.
Another great water feature pictured above. This is the entry-way to the amenities found at 900 Biscayne Bay shown in the pictures below.
Here we have the theater room at 900 Biscayne Bay. It's the best theater room that I've ever seen in a condo building in Miami. It has a 153 inch screen and seating for 35 people. I doubt many people will actually make use of this room but it's still quite impressive to have in your building.
Many of the rooms found on this level at 900 Biscayne Bay come equipped with the above technology. Mount your iPod and enjoy the sounds of your own tunes throughout the room.
The club room at 900 Biscayne Bay with a grand piano and kitchen.
The conference room at 900 Biscayne Bay.
The entry-way into the men's and women's spa at 900 Biscayne Bay which is each equipped with a steam room, sauna and hot tub.
Tell me that it doesn't look inviting. This is the hot tub in the women's spa at 900 Biscayne Bay. I'm hoping that this isn't the last time that I get invited into the women's spa at 900 Biscayne Bay. In my mind, I already had my shoes and socks off, but unfortunately the tour wasn't over.
Another shot of the women's spa.
The fitness center at 900 Biscayne Bay was a nice size. It wasn't overly impressive but it had plenty of free weights, machines and cardio equipment. I would have preferred a view of the bay to the east, however.
I took a look at about 3 condos at 900 Biscayne Bay that day. Here's a shot of one of the kitchens with dark cabinetry. Another kitchen I saw that day had beige colored cabinets.
Here's an east view from one of the condos I saw at 900 Biscayne Bay. I think this was a shot from the 34th floor.
Overall, I felt that 900 Biscayne Bay exceeded my expectations. I think Pedro Martin and Terra Group delivered an outstanding condo development. Of all the new condo buildings that I've been in that have been completed within the past three years in Miami, 900 Biscayne Bay is on an entirely different level. The quality of the building is unsurpassed of the new condo buildings that I've seen. I haven't been in Asia yet but I think that will be the only other recently finished condo building in Miami that may be able to measure up to 900 Biscayne Bay. The quality does come at a price, however. Expect to pay more than you'll find at Marina Blue or Ten Museum Park, but like I said, the quality is unsurpassed.
900 Biscayne Bay condos for sale
900 Biscayne Bay condos for rent
Who do I get a loan from for this GORGEOUS CONDO? I have a 70% DTi ratio and my FICO is 590. That should be enough to secure 1 million dollars with 120% LTV right? I will be using the cash to make my payment so I can flip this place for triple the money in 3 months! WHOOO HOO!
Flipping condos pays WAY BETTER than that stupid hospital job I have. I wish I didn’t spend all that money and time and effort earning a worthless degree. Question is, who are all the poor suckers that DON’T flip condos for a living?!
How is that an infinity edge pool? Or maybe the photo doesn’t show the infinity edge????
The top picture of the pool shows an infinity edge! The second picture is the lap pool.
ALWAYS BEEN MY FAVORITE. 900 BISCAYNE IS AN AWESOME BUILDING… LOCATION SUCKS BUT WITH A BUILDING LIKE THAT THERE IS NO NEED TO LEAVE THE PREMISES
Love the water features….Finally a condo builder thinking outside the box. But what were they thinking placing the gym on the south side with no bay view ?!?!
Nice building! What are 1 bedrooms going for these days? I only see 2 + beds listed.
DA – I consider an infinity edge pool one where you look at the pool and the edge fades into the background such as next to another body of water giving the illusion it is all part of one body of water. This one doesn’t do that….
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infinity_pool
I like 900 Biscayne above everything else in the area. The ammenities are top notch as well, this is what you should expect to get on other buildings with high maintenance costs.
Looks nice although I’m not big on “spas” in a condo… I think everything else came out great. Hope some Segafredo/Novecento type places move into the area to give the area a nice vibe. It’s got the buildings, now it needs a soul.
JL
you’re mistaken…park west has tons of character/soul. just last week, i was accosted by three bums at the BP next to TMP. sadly, i did not see my old friend…the guy who took a poo next to TMP several months back. guess he found a new spot.
900 looks nice. hell, all of these buildings look nice. but the problem is, and will continue to be, you can’t build luxury in a neighborhood that isn’t worthy of it. continuing my story about the BP from above, i saw a girl walking her dog around TMP that night (note, she stayed within 50 feet of the entry door at all times). curious, i asked her if she lived in the building (yes – renting from an investor) and what she thought. her response included “nice building”, “nowhere to walk to” and “dangerous.” this is my point – the end users who could afford a place at 900 would say screw it, and instead look on the beach. the stretch on collins starting from 40th going up to sunny isles provides more than enough options at new buildings that are just as competetive on price and offer a far superior location than 900.
I was able to confirm that Gardner’s Market has signed a lease at 900 Biscayne Bay.
That should definitely help the area. I live in the grove and I really like how they opened up a fresh market a 2 blocks away from my building, I stop there to get dinner after work a couple of times a week.
DA – I thought an infinity edge pool is where the pool edge falls off into the horizon which gives the illusion that it goes on forever esp if it is against the background of a large body of water….it looks like it is one body of water. This isn’t that. I don’t know what you call it, but it ain’t an infinity edge pool in my book unless the other edges create that effect. See wikipeida
Interesting from CNN and Money Mag:
Miami, FL
12-month forecast: -24.9%
Median home price: $329,000
One year price change: -9.8%
Five year price change: 94.8%
Prices forecast to hit bottom:
April-June, 2010
Change in foreclosure rate: 370%
http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2008/moneymag/0805/gallery.resg_losers.moneymag/index.html
HI RENTER TOM.What’s happening with price’s down there now?I’m up in New York and still hoping that price’s are DROPPING the way thet were.Please let me know, and by the way how is SUPER SUNNY ISLES??? All the best
hey allinvest – I have been monitoring things while I’m down here in Sunny Isles Beach. The third Trump Tower is topped off now and a lot of progress is being made on the second tower too to finish the exterior and interior…..not very many lights on at all in the first Trump Tower…. the one valet guy out front looks pretty darn bored out of his mind each time I walk by…… Solis is on it’s 10 floor and will block a lot of views going south if you’re north of it since it is being built around 55 stories straight up right on the property line…. Jade Beach (or whatever those two towers are called) is busy with construction workers and will look nice when done. The only buildings on the beach that show a good number of lights on at night are the 3 Oceania towers. Turnberry must have occupancy in both towers albeit not more than 10% lights ever on. A lot of inventory on MLS is still there 120 days later and more rental units keep being listed with some pretty darn good prices in my opinion (really great deals for off season rentals). When are they ever going to open that pier I’ll never know….. The St. Tropez is still being built and will be nice but who will buy? The busiest place on the beach remains the Newport Beach Resort. So many luxury units on the beach that I have to believe people will be getting desperate in the later part of the year…. people still seem to think they can hold on to pretty high prices but they just don’t seem to be selling….and still a ton of rentals available too. Good weather….am waiting for the big price drops this year before considering any purchase and will monitor inventory levels too……. Hope that helps.
Dear Mo,
The secret is SAVING. You can have any kind of job, but if you plan and be careful with your money, you can buy the dream home of your choice. Do not be bitter. You can still get there. But for you to be having a FICO score of 590 shows that you have not been responsible with your money. It is a good start to earn a better credit rating than that.
I bought my first dwelling in the united states in NYC when I was just making $40,000 a year in 2001. A second home in Miami in 2004 and my salary was $60,000 a year. These salaries are not spectacular by any standards or any region. Probably you are making as much as that or more.
The only saving grace is that I was always willing to put 20% down due to my high savings (because I never spend $4 on Starbucks coffee like many millions of stupid Americans when I can get an excellent cup of joe for a $1 anywhere) and my credit score always hovered around high 700’s (I like to pay my bills on time and keep my debt low). So if you discipline yourself a little bit, you can get a home of your dreams anywhere. If not, you can always have the good memories of the $4 coffee, $23 Martini at Setai or a $2000 vacation you took the past year.
Ordinary working class people like me do not buy properties because we inherited some money. It is because we did some sacrifices and denied ourselves certain unnecessary pleasures, with out which many Americans cannot liveby. So stop being bitter and start being determined.
Superlative building I must say. Everyone who saw inside has nothing but praise for 900 Biscayne. I heard Daddy Yankee bought a unit there (not that it would make any difference to me).
Hi DLR,
I totally agree. The gym should have faced the bay, especially given their location advantage.
The best views of any gym I have seen is from the 1800 Club. Quantums Gym does not have views either.
Lucas,
These buildings barely have enough parking for residences & visitors; where will clients of Gardener’s park?
Lucas,
How can I see your other pics of 900?
Check out:
http://www.angryrenter.com
I have to agree…no bailout. Let the prices fall!
Thank you renter TOM.I really appreciate the update.Like you I am waiting for a DEAL.I’m probably not looking at spending as much as you…however this is only an occasional residence for us.8-12 week’s a year would be heaven.I was thinkinking 300K max. I don’t really need ocean front,but would like a nice 2/2 in a nice building/with parking.What do you think?? I was originally looking at a loft in Aventura.Please give me your thought`s BUD. Thank you.
Lucas, how windy was it up there on the pool area. I know its pretty bad in a lot of this new buildings (blue, TMP, one Miami). I see a lot of ripples and moving palm trees.
ctvlateta,
That day wasn’t windy but I know exactly what you mean.
allinvest,
I would be surprised if a 2/2 in 360 condo in North Bay Village isn’t sub 300K very soon. That’s a building you might want to keep on your list. Nice building and views, immediate neighborhood is crap., but very close to everything.
When hurricane season comes around, I wouldn’t be surprised to see some vortex develop where the palm trees and furniture get catapaulted through that breezeway cutout in the middle of the 900 building. That would be a youtube video worth posting, 900 furniture landing on the AA Arena.
Seriously though, if you aren’t used to S FL weather, you’ll be in for a shock how these wind patterns wrap around large buildings. You could feel 10-20 MPH on the street, and that hole in the middle of the building could see 60 MPH. If you’ve ever walked through the breezeway during hurricane season underneath the center tower at the Flamingo, you know what I mean. Hope they had some MIT guys figure out that hole in 900 or you might see bikini tops flying off the pooldeck area. On the other hand…
It is an “infinity edge” what you are not seeing is it merging with a larger body of water…but the fact that the “troughs” that catch water are underwater and pump the water back into the pool technically qualify it as an infinity edged pool.
Oh silly DA (just kidding), that is a perimeter overflow pool, not an infinity edge pool:
Negative Edge Pool
Negative edge pools are getting more common and require an expert to build. They are also referred to as infinity swimming pools or infinity egde pools. These are designed to look like the pool extends all the way out to the horizon. The mechanics and engineering of infinity pools cannot be compromised.
Perimeter Overflow Pool
This would be a pool where the water level in the pool is the same as the top of the decking. Around the pool perimeter is a channel or notch that the water drains into creating a visual masterpiece. It looks like a big mirror lying on the ground. Very upscale!
Great building. Bad location. The traffic around this building sucks for all those Heat games and concerts.
Side note…
I was outside the 900 sidewalk area last week for about 5 minutes. In that time, 2 different bums came up for money. I would hate to have been there at night.
Building looks great, BUT
-Traffic around that area sucks (espc during Heat games)
-access to freeway is bad
-bums everywhere
-area will take at least 3 years to develop
-wouldn’t want to be walkin around at night
-would rather buy something on Brickell or safer area along biscayne
BC,
Get a gun and gun license. Very safe area when your packing heat. Also, stun guns are effective in the area, no permit needed.
Nobody ever posts street level photos or neighborhood photos of this area for foreign investors. I wonder why?
You cannot even walk more than six blocks to the west w/o being in Overtown.
For the foreign investors I will save you the trouble.
http://www.overtown.us/OT1205Pics/index.htm
The building look nice but thsi building started sellign at the boom hype so it was already overpriced. Now it’s not worth as much and prices should be dropping as they are in TMP and MB. By the way, TMP appears to have it gym finally built after a year. The pool deck is ok different but the units atleast the 1 bd and the 2bd on the west side are WAY overpriced and really not that great in a layout and very small. Only the east side units are decent but those are overpriced.
Another thing to tak enote of these so called high end building was by Paramount Bay the other day and saw something very interesting. ..soem of the balconies goign up were metel bars like the cheap buildings have such as 1800 Plaza and city. I though tit was supposed to be all glass balconies across the board and do see alot of metel railings liek old buildings have was a shocker for a buildign that was trying to sell at $700+ I woul dexpect thsi bldg when done to drop like a rock!
Kind o freminds me of the Vue in Brickell half with Glass Balconies and half with Glass.
Makes me to believe that $$$ may be an issue.
anyone have any feedback or input?
Wouldn’t be surprising if that’s true. Have you followed the Shenanigans going on with Cynergi on this blog?
Here’s the big problem. Marble countertops, Stainless Steel, wood floors, nice views etc. only add full value in an up market. In a down market, people buy on price alone so it’s not surprising to see developer’s strip out a building. The realization is hitting that you’ll have a much better chance selling a cheap bare condo than an upscale condo. I’m sure a lot of these guys are expecting massive walkaways, so why not deliver as little as you can if the contract holder is almost certain to walk regardless. Then, as the developer you might be able to sell in bulk to a “genius” bulk buyer on price.
Renter Tom, You are getting way too technical on a term loosely used and thrown around by developers because it sounds upscale and sexy, take a chill guy.
My point is, descriptions need to be accurate. Like saying a home has wood floors when it is really pergo. Things get overhyped on the upside, not the downside.
Wild Bill-
You are correct. But its not just 6 blocks away. In reality, this area is really bad just 1 block away. All of those bums and drug dealers filter out of that Metrorail station directly behind 900 Biscayne.
Just a few comments:
(1) The real estate price bottom (at least in real dollar terms) is years away. In nominal terms, it will probably hit in 2010, not this year or next, but the rate of decline will ease next year compared to this year. Markets like Chicago will follow the rest of the country albeit not to the extremes of FL, CA and Las Vegas. Peak prices may come back in 2015…it is anybody’s guess, but a range of 2012-2020 is reasonable (I hope it doesn’t go beyond 2020!).
(2) The high end market is already showing weakness as “rich” people don’t want to put their money into a declining asset and watch 20%+ disappear. The wannabe’s are out of the market too.
(3) The pool of potential buyers is getting smaller, not larger, as the supply continues to grow and grow. People buy homes with financing, even a lot of “rich” people, and bank loans are getting much more difficult to obtain (esp. in Florida!) with full documentation requirements and large downpayment (at least 20% in the markets where PMI is pretty much no longer being readily issued). The large downpayment requirement will be one of the major causes of continued slowdown in home purchases. How will you pay for it???
(4) The upcoming wave of option ARM resets will hurt people since many people would like to change to a fixed rate mortgage but few are able to refinance their mortgage…..AND many have second mortgages, HELOCs and the like that they would like to consolidate into one fixed rate but can not. Welcome to the end of the line in the housing debt trap. There is nothing wrong with owning a home, it is the DEBT that one takes on that is the problem right now and allowed people to get into more home then they could afford. Banks aren’t willing to lend as easily and get burned after realizing all of these huge, historic losses. There is plenty of liquidity out there but what bank wants to take over an ARM and HELOC for 120% of the appraised value and have the owner walk away later??? By continuing to allow the home asset to be used as collateral against ever larger loans, banks have essentially been making unsecured loans on what they thought was a secured asset that is worth less and less. So now, more people are treating their home debt like they do with credit card debt…being reckless and walking away with no skin in the game and taking the credit hit instead of continuing to be a debt slave. Banks will never return to those lending standards. The best hope is to get banks (or any mortgage holder) that currently hold a mortgage to refinance loans already on the books to refinance their existing mortgages into fixed rate mortgages to mitigate their total loss (once they completely get out of denial).
(5) Until supply comes down substantially, home pricing will continue to decline and in some markets prices will decline BELOW construction and land costs. Once that happens, then new home construction will continue to decline and decline and decline which will help reduce supply. It will be a long drawn out process. Homebuilders are in for a very long home building depression esp. those that depend on volume construction.
It is a matter of supply and demand. The funny money of easy financing (with low interest rates and home appreciation rates far exceeding mortgage interest rate which essentially made it that you were being paid to own as much housing as you could) is gone gone gone. Half the demand is gone and not coming back anytime soon. Supply is up up up. This will be a VERY long drawn out process for much of the US and esp. in the bubble markets.
NO BAILOUTS by the government. Such programs will only cause others who are upside down but able to afford their house to consider not paying and walking away since that may be in their best interest resulting in a collapse of home prices. It is bad enough at the level we are at without piling on. Best to encourage and assist in loan term renegotiation into low interest fixed rate mortgages that are assumable for the next buyer (with lender approval).
Renter Tom –
The high end ($1M+) waterfront condo market in South Beach isn’t showing “weakness”. Check out the closings of condos for more than $1M during the last couple of months at Apogee and Continuum (and Murano at Portofino, Il Villagio and Setai).
Renter Tom I don’t know what your problem is. All you have to do is buy a 45 magnum and your protected. You can walk anywhere around this building, even walk your dog safely. Easy solution
Samson – The high end IN CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS (whether that is SoBe, NYC, etc.) will be the last to fall. Overall, in the US, the high end is getting hit though. No property will be immune just like all properties pretty much rose during the bubble.
Mo – Are you serious or just joking? I can buy most anything, including SoBe, in cash. But I worked hard for my $ and am not going to be reckless. I have been looking for a place to buy for several months but choose to rent for 1/2 the price….I’ll wait for the idoits to get taken to the cleaners then buy when the prices drop. Hopefully, you’re heavily invested in FL housing, since I’ll wait for one of your’s after you go bankrupt.
RenterTOM.
You are 90% correct, but the fact about peak prices coming back make me giggle like a school girl. lololol.
Don’t know what is so hard to understand. Only reason prices went so high is because people were buying knowing they can sell it to the next greater fool for more money and so on. Eventually prices got so high that no greater fools came along and the bubble popped.
Peak prices will never come back. Ever.
well… when median income of miami rises to the level that can afford a 375K 1 bedroom then we will see peak prices again…
Based on wages though that won’t be untill 2035 or so.
When will people get it… Real estate will no longer be viewed as an investment for the next 2 generations. It will just be viewed as a place to live.
And only end users will be buying for years to come.
The beach isn’t immune to this fall as well. Look at Murano Grande. 2 bedrooms are down to $600,000. There wasn’t anything less than $900,000 12 months ago.
They will eventually hit to around $400,000.
Christopher@HousingFEAR – Talking about peak prices (I meant in nominal dollar terms, not real dollars) and I was also referring to the US overall, not Miami, South Florida in particular. The Miami market will have a longer drawn out process then say Chicago. If Chicago goes down 25% that will be a lot! If South Florida goes down 50% that will be a lot too! Overall, the return to the peak nominal dollar pricing in the US will be 2012-2020….depends on how large the drop is at the bottom (hence the large range). I have found the whole thing fascinating since I am from the midwest and our price run up was very mild.
Mo – LOL, now I know you’re joking. Did you see the website angryrenter(dotcom)? It is good and makes good arguments against any bailout.
But seriously, yeah Tom, I went to the link and signed it. I also signed for like 10 people in my family.
By the way, although I am renting in S. FL, I still own a home in the midwest… will sell it though within the next 12 months or so.
Of course real estate is an EXCELLENT investment people! Look at Donald Trump, he’s only been bankrupt like 2 times….errr, okay, 3 times…..oh wait, he might have to declare bankruptcy again, but after that he should be good. So only 4 times has he had to declare bankruptcy! I mean who else can say that? I might have to declare bankruptcy again if this condo thing doesn’t pan out…but the premise is solid. I just failed at the execution. If I would have bought now, then I could have held out until prices start to shoot up again. I think prices should turn around on June 23. Why June 23? Well, isn’t that the summer solstice?