From left: Dina Goldentayer and Sladja Stantic

Brokers Dina Goldentayer and Sladja Stantic of the DS Team have joined One Sotheby’s International Realty. The two brokers, who are based in Miami Beach, specialize in waterfront properties. The two were previously affiliated with Keller Williams, where they were reportedly the firm’s top-producing team. “We are pleased to welcome Dina and Sladja to the firm,” said Beth Butler, president of One Sotheby’s International Realty. The brokers will be working out of the company’s Miami Beach offices at 119 Washington Avenue. — Alexander Britell [more]

Even those overbidding for South Florida condos are losing out to other buyers. Some realtors even say they are seeing upsurges in prices in South Florida. “What I’m seeing on the streets is, prices are going up,” said Melanie Hyer of Keller Williams Realty. “It’s still a buyer’s market, but the market is stabilizing.” In nine separate neighborhoods, buyers are paying more than the asking price, including in Miami-Dade County and Broward. The cities include Homestead, Medley and Miami Gardens in Miami-Dade, along with Coconut Creek in Broward. See more in the video above. [NBC Miami]

The South Florida home to see the biggest price cut today is a three-bedroom, two- bathroom house at 217 Atlantic Avenue in Sunny Isles, according to data from Condo Vultures Realty. The $1 million Miami-Dade County home saw a $400,000, or 29 percent, price cut. It was originally listed for $1.4 million when it hit the market earlier this month. The 2,268-square-foot home sits on a 25,266-square-foot, waterfront lot, which could potentially be split into two, and has private beach access. Natalia Gafanovich Stewar of Keller Williams has the listing. (Condo Vultures data includes condos and single-family home listings in the main metropolitan areas of Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Key West that are priced at $1 million and above, and that include photographs. Listings are taken from the South Florida MLS.) TRD

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The penthouse at Murano at Portofino

The South Florida home to see the biggest price cut today is a three-bedroom, three-bathroom condo at Murano at Portofino at 1000 South Pointe Drive in Miami Beach, according to data from Condo Vultures Realty. The $2.99 million Miami-Dade County home saw a $510,000, or 15 percent, price cut off its last asking price of $3.5 million. It was originally listed for $4.5 million when it hit the market in August 2009 before the last price cut in February. The 2,618-square-foot, high-floor penthouse has city and ocean views, floor-to-ceiling glass windows, wood and marble floors, a laundry room and terrace. John Sandberg of Keller Williams Miami Beach has the listing. (Condo Vultures data includes condos and single-family home listings in the main metropolitan areas of Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Key West that are priced at $1 million and above, and that include photographs. Listings are taken from the South Florida MLS.) TRD [more]

South Beach residential real estate prices are staying strong at the high end as buyers fork over cash to buy ultra-luxury condominium units. Upper-echelon properties, especially those in the South of Fifth neighborhood, are holding their own and, in some cases, fetching more than expected. “In South Beach, I would say prices are holding, prices are coming back,” said South Beach realtor Andres de Solminihac, an associate with Keller Williams in Miami Beach. “I saw a few transactions where the buyers expected to get lower prices, and the sellers got even higher prices than the first bids.” He cited one example at the Portofino tower, where the first offer for a $2.2 million unit came in at $1.5 million, and that was out-bid by a $1.55 million offer. Finally, a buyer came and offered $1.725 million and the deal closed in 15 days. [more]

The penthouse at the Murano at Portofino

The South Florida home to see the biggest price cut today is a three-bedroom, three-bathroom penthouse condo in the Murano at Portofino at 1000 South Pointe Drive in South Beach, according to data from Condo Vultures Realty. The $6.975 million Miami-Dade County home saw a $375,000, or 5 percent, price cut. It was originally listed for $7.35 million when it hit the market in December 2009. The 2,850-square-foot duplex is on the building’s top two floors and has ocean views, an upstairs party room and sauna, and a roof terrace with pond, bar and “sky beach.” Andres De Solminihac of Keller Williams Miami Beach has the listing. (Condo Vultures data includes condos and single-family home listings in the main metropolitan areas of Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Key West that are priced at $1 million and above, and that include photographs. Listings are taken from the South Florida MLS.) TRD [more]

Murano at Portofino

The South Florida home to see the biggest price cut today is a three-bedroom, three-bathroom condo at Murano at Portofino at 1000 S. Pointe Drive in Miami Beach, according to data from Condo Vultures Realty. The $3.5 million Miami-Dade County home saw a $1 million, or 22 percent, price cut. It was originally listed for $4.5 million when it hit the market in August 2009. The 2,618-square-foot waterfront high-floor apartment has floor-to-ceiling glass windows throughout, wood and marble flooring and a laundry room. John Sandberg of Keller Williams Miami Beach has the listing. (Condo Vultures data includes condos and single-family home listings in the main metropolitan areas of Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Key West that are priced at $1 million and above, and that include photographs. Listings are taken from the South Florida MLS.) TRD
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From left: Heidi Cole, who was brought in to expand Mirsky Cole & Company this year, Jonathan Duerr, a recent Fite Shavell & Associates hire and Charlotte Curran, who was brought on by Brown Harris Stevens this month

Palm Beach brokers had a busy 2009, if not in terms of sales, then in terms of moving. Mergers, high profile departures and hirings as well as expansion all characterized a year that saw lots of market drama.

At the start of 2009, the Mirsky Realty Group brought Heidi Cole into the company and expanded its operations. Now called Mirsky Cole & Company, it has 79 agents in two Palm Beach offices and one Jupiter location.

Sheri and Paul Reback, whose family-owned company has serviced high-end properties in North Palm Beach for 35 years, bought an Engel & Voelkers franchise and converted that firm’s North Palm Beach office, with eight agents, in late 2008. Then, they bought a Palm Beach franchise and opened an office on Peruvian Avenue with three agents in April 2009. [more]

In an age of free agency, South Florida real estate brokers are changing allegiances as firms look for agents who get results.

Recent moves add to a list that figures to get longer: Eric Pruitt and Isabel Stephenson recently left RE/MAX to join forces with Keller Williams, and Esslinger Wooten Maxwell Realtors hired Jo-Ann Forester and her eight-member team away from Coldwell Banker.

Real estate executives and head hunters never stop recruiting top producers, but more agents are considering making the move in a down market, according to Matt Johnston, CEO of Workway, a real estate staffing firm with offices in Tampa, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale.
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South Florida’s real estate market is one of the hardest hit regions in
the country, but bad times for brokerages also mean opportunities for
consolidation as smaller, weakened players falter and seek
deep-pocketed backing. Keller Williams Pembroke Pines has added dozens of agents this year,
including the just-completed acquisition of Lyon Company Realtors. In
total, the Pembroke Pines office has 162 agents and saw $31,000 in May
profits — its most profitable month ever — despite the local market
challenges. “We’re in talks with a few groups right now about mergers,” said
Natascha Tello, broker and operating principal at the Pembroke Pines
office. “It’s always about finding a win-win. With Mark Lyon, his core
group was a match. Our two companies’ cultures are basically identical,
placing God, family, and business at the forefront of our lives.” [more]