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South Florida report

Snapshots of real estate news from South Florida

From left: Caroline Wozniacki, Jay Parker and David Beckham
From left: Caroline Wozniacki, Jay Parker and David Beckham

Soccer stadium falters

David Beckham and his financial backers have attempted to bring Major League Soccer back to Miami for more than a year, but the soccer legend is no closer to accomplishing his goal.

Beckham’s group seemed close to a deal to build a 20,000-seat stadium on the site of a deep-water boat slip next to the Miami Heat’s AmericanAirlines Arena in downtown Miami. Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez suggested the slip site after a previous pitch to locate the venue at PortMiami met with heavy resistance.

Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado initially supported the plan, but changed course last month, telling Beckham and his partners that the slip was no longer an option.

Beckham and his real estate advisor John Aschuler, whose New York–based firm made nearly $1.5 million lobbying unsuccessfully for a Major League Soccer stadium in Queens, now must regroup and find another potential location.

Celeb deals flourish

South Florida saw a flurry of celebrity deals in recent weeks, led by Danish tennis star Caroline Wozniacki picking up a Fisher Island penthouse for $1.7 million. The former top-ranked player in the world acquired the three-bedroom, 1,847-square-foot condo shortly before her break up with golfer Rory McIlroy. The broker who represented Wozniacki said her entire family plans to use the fully furnished unit when they visit Miami.

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Another notable buyer was Lois Pope, the widow of National Enquirer founder Generoso Pope. In a $16.2 million transaction, Pope bought a massive home in Palm Beach County’s high-end Manalapan.

On the selling side, Ivana Trump – The Donald’s ex – reportedly got $18 million for her landmarked Palm Beach home, just four months after putting the property on the market. In Bal Harbour, retired hockey great Alexander Mogilny unloaded a penthouse at the Bellini condo building for $6 million. The buyer was wealthy Latvian businessman Leonid Esterkin.

The next big celebrity home to sell could be the Miami Beach estate owned by Grammy-winner Alejandro Sanz, who wants $18 million for the North Bay Road residence.

Elliman expands

Brokerage Douglas Elliman expanded its Florida operations with the recent purchase of Miami Beach real estate firm Majestic Properties.

As part of the transaction, Majestic’s Jeff Morr and his team joined Douglas Elliman as brokers. Morr launched the boutique firm in 1995 and is credited with selling more than 3,000 condos valued at $3 billion over the last two decades.

“The acquisition of Majestic Properties is a prime opportunity to expand our network of agents with some of the best in the market,” said Jay Parker, CEO of Douglas Elliman Florida.