Ex-Venezuelan politician and former Miss Universe lists Gables estate for $25M

Irene Sáez and her husband, Serafín García, own a handful of properties in Gables Estates

Serafín García, Irene Sáez and 115 Arvida Parkway (Credit: El Carabobeño)
Serafín García, Irene Sáez and 115 Arvida Parkway (Credit: El Carabobeño)

A company tied to former Miss Universe and ex-Venezuelan politician Irene Sáez is listing a spec mansion in Coral Gables for $25 million.

Property records reveal Bidu Properties LLC — controlled by Sáez’s husband, Venezuelan businessman and former Ocean Bank principal Serafín García, and Jessica and Karina García — owns the nearly 11,000-square-foot estate at 115 Arvida Parkway. The mansion hit the market for $25 million, according to Realtor.com.

115 Arvida Parkway

115 Arvida Parkway

Sáez won Miss Universe in 1981, and was later mayor of Chacao. She ran for president of Venezuela in 1998 and was governor of Nueva Esparta from 1999-2000. Her home country has been in political and economic turmoil that’s been escalating in recent weeks as opposition leader Juan Guaido calls for the military to oust President Nicolás Maduro.

The eight-bedroom home features a master bedroom suite with three terraces, 280 feet of water frontage, a new seawall and dock, stone floors and mahogany woodwork. It was designed by Pacheco Martinez & Associates and completed in 2018. The home is in the exclusive Gables Estates community, where Sáez and García own other properties.

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Douglas Elliman’s Oren and Tal Alexander, who The Real Deal recently profiled, and Isaac Lustgarten are listing the property.

The 38,000-square-foot lot last sold in 2010 for $4.15 million, records show. Bidu Properties paid $6.13 million for the vacant lot next door in 2014. Both properties are steps from billionaire Mike Fernandez’s estate.

115 Arvida Parkway

115 Arvida Parkway

Bidu Properties also owns the waterfront home at 491 Arvida Parkway, which the company is redeveloping, according to property records. Serafín García is listed as the president of Bidu Properties. He and Sáez own the waterfront mansion at 631 Arvida Parkway in their names, and have it on the market for nearly $14 million.

The spec home at 115 Arvida Parkway is among the most expensive homes listed for sale in Coral Gables, according to Realtor.com. The top two listings are 8901 Arvida Lane, asking $55 million, and 700 Arvida Parkway, which is on the market for $45 million. Miami businessman Manuel Diaz owns the former, and Rey Rodriguez, a former longtime president of Univision, owns the latter. Both are listed with Dennis Carvajal of One Sotheby’s International Realty.