Artesia’s Clubhouse and Recreational Activities Are Like No Other!

If you like to lead a social lifestyle, it’s hard to beat what owning a condo or townhome at Artesia in west Sunrise has to offer.  ‘Villa Artesia’… the magnificent new clubhouse at Artesia, officially opened it’s doors in late June 2007 by hosting an open house for real estate brokers in the Sunrise, Florida area.  The event was well worth attending as we were amazed at the range of fitness, recreational and social activities the palatial clubhouse and outdoor amenities have to offer the residents of Artesia.

Artesia truly brings the resort lifestyle to West Broward. This new home community features a vast plaza with shimmering pools and fountains… including a Grand Canal. Stroll along the brick-paved walkways and enjoy the lush landscaping throughout. Take a dip in one of three pools! Sip a drink by the tropical poolside tiki bar or have a bite to eat in the charming Fountain Cafe. Try your hand at pool in the ultimate billiard club room (complete with sports bar and flat screen TV) or take a class in the Art Room. Get in shape in the state-of-the art Exercise Center, or play a game of basketball or tennis, then get a massage at the spa. The Sunrise Room is available for hosting social gatherings.  There’s even a tot lot and waterworks area for kids! All this and much more is available for you at Artesia… South Florida living at it’s best!

::  View a Virtual Tour of Artesia’s Clubhouse & Amenities!  ::

This new home community is located in the Sawgrass area of Sunrise, Florida.  It’s an area that has seen a great deal of activity in recent years not only because of the new construction of condos (including Tao) but also because of new local shopping areas (IKEA’s Sunrise store & Sawgrass Landings, where you’ll find LA Fitness, Starbucks, Panera Bread, Quizno’s, Kinko’s & more).  Let’s not forget the additions to the Sawgrass Mills Mall (the Colonnade Outlets at Sawgrass, Grand Lux Cafe & PF Chang’s to name a few).

If you haven’t visited any of the models at Artesia yet, but are thinking of going, be sure to call me first to find out how you can qualify for a $1,000 rebate at closing (one of the conditions is that I must register you as my customer).  By the way… I don’t bite.  Really!  If you’d like to view Artesia condos for sale on the South Florida MLS, click here then choose “Broward County” and enter “Artesia” next to “Complex Name” and click on the search button.  At the time this post was published, there were 23 Artesia condos for sale varying in price from $293,000-$549,000.  I’m offering the rebate on resale condos in Artesia as well as new construction units (call 954-846-1600 for details).

Tao Condos in Sunrise, FL – Nearing Completion!

The tallest buildings in western Broward County are just a few months from being ready for unit owners to start moving in.  The two 26-story Tao condo towers will have 396 residences (with 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms) and, per the builder’s representatives, are currently about 90% sold out.  The expected date of completion is April 2008 with closings starting in May.  Prices start in the high-$400’s for the 1-bedroom condos.  Maintenance fees are approximately 38 cents per square foot per month.

The views in the upper floors of these highrise buildings will undoubtedly be amazing.  I doubt I’m the only one who’s seen these towers from a considerable distance!  I know I’ve spotted them from as far north as the Sawgrass Expressway between Atlantic Blvd. and Sample Road.

South Florida Teardowns and McMansions

According to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Florida is among the states they identified in 2002 that is experiencing teardowns in historic neighborhoods where McMansions are becoming more and more commonplace.  In 2002 they identified 100 communities in 20 states and, unfortunately, just about four years later that number soared to more than 300 communities in 33 states that are being impacted by teardowns.  The photo on the left is an example of what a typical neighborhood in South Florida looked like before some of the smaller, single-story older homes were replaced with newer, larger homes (as shown in the photo below).

There were 21 Florida cities identified (13 of which are in Broward, Palm Beach, and Miami-Dade Counties): Boca Raton, Bradenton Beach, Coral Gables, Delray Beach, Fort Lauderdale (Rio Vista), Gulf Stream, Hollywood (Lakes), Juno Beach, Jupiter Island, Lighthouse Point, Marco Island, Miami (Coconut Grove, West Grove), Naples, North Miami Beach, Ocean Ridge, Old Marco, Palm Beach, Sarasota, St. Petersburg, Tallahassee, and Tampa.

The term “McMansions” is a slang architectural term and is often used to describe the house built to replace the teardown.  In Florida, McMansions are typically much bigger than the original house on the site and they tend to stand out in a neighborhood that mostly consists of older and smaller, one-story homes with roomy front and back yards. Sometimes this new construction is not welcomed by neighbors because it destroys the original character of the neighborhood. Immediate neighbors sometimes complain of the negative impact it has on their property with regards to restricted views, reduced sunlight to their house or yard, as well as property values.  Local leaders are often either not able or willing to prevent these teardowns that forever change the landscape of historic neighborhoods.

Most of the McMansions around South Florida are located in neighborhoods where homes are either on, or have access to, the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW).  The land is often much more valuable than the original home that’s on the property and some of the teardowns are done by owners who have lived on the property for several years and love the location but simply want a newer, larger home.  In some cases, it’s luxury home developers who are buying the older homes, tearing them down and if the lot is large enough to allow it, they build more than one new home which makes for a very nice return on their investment.  These newer custom homes are typically full of luxurious details and features not found in older homes.

Among other terms that you may hear used in place of “McMansions” are: “monster home,” “faux chateaux,” and “starter castle.”

Additional information:

• Florida Trust for Historic Preservation
• Teardowns / McMansions in the News (PDF format)
• Glossary of Teardown Terms (PDF format)

Jasmine Lakes Phase II in Davie, Florida

I’ve written before about investing in Davie condos or townhomes near NSU and the rest of the South Florida Education Center (SFEC).  If your preference leans toward purchasing new construction, you may want to consider Jasmine Lakes Phase II in Davie, which is ideally located just south of the SFEC near the SE corner of Davie Road and Griffin Road. 

Currently, there are several 2- and 3-bedroom condos in two-story Mediterranean style lakeside buildings that are reasonably priced in the $180’s and $190’s $170’s and $180’s (base price).  Standard with each unit are laminate countertops, carpeting in the living areas and ceramic tile flooring in the foyer, kitchen and bathrooms.  Optional upgrades include granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, laminate wood floors, 20″ tile and more.  The maintenance fee is a relatively low $209 when compared to similar condos.  The second-story condos feature vaulted ceilings and limited attic space while the ground floor units offer a small concrete patio with a built-in planter.  All floorplans at Jasmine Lakes Phase II feature kitchens with a pass-through snack bar which opens to the dining area, and pre-wiring for a security system.  Some units offer views of the lake.

:: View a Virtual Tour of Jasmine Lakes Phase II ::

Community amenities include a two-level clubhouse that, once the renovations are complete, will include a state-of-the-art fitness center, ping-pong, and possibly a billiard table.  Already in place are brand new luxurious kitchen facilities with an adjacent open serving bar area (with sink), cabana bathrooms, a seating area on each level, and a water feature in the lobby.  Residents can also enjoy the heated swimming pool and spa, as well as a tennis/basketball court which is due to be refurbished soon.  The community also features a walking/jogging trail around a second lake.  Jasmine Lakes Phase II is approximately 15-20 minutes from Fort Lauderdale Beach and many Broward County hot spots. 

From now through the end of 2007 I’m offering buyers a rebate of $1,000 after closing if they purchase one of these condos through me.  So if you’re considering viewing any of the units at Jasmine Lakes Phase II, be sure to contact Leanne Paynter at 954-846-1600 to schedule a showing.  UPDATE:  Only a few of the 2-bedroom floorplans are still available at this time so don’t delay!

IKEA opening in Sunrise, Florida this Fall

UPDATE:  The Sunrise, Florida IKEA’s Grand Opening 
is scheduled for Wednesday, October 17th at 9:00 a.m.! 

The Swedish furniture giant IKEA will have a grand opening for its first store ever in Florida this Fall.  The newest IKEA will be located at the northwest corner of I-595 / S.R. 84 and 136th Avenue in Sunrise, Florida (western Broward County) as part of the 25-acre “Gateway at Sawgrass” retail center.  This store even includes a double-decker garage which will no doubt be filled to capacity during its first few weeks, followed by the holiday rush. 

For IKEA’s loyal fans, this grand opening will mean no more need for catalogs or online shopping for their favorite furniture and accessory items.  Florida has more customers than any other state without an IKEA store. Its 293,000 square feet of space will be much like other IKEA’s in that it will offer dozens of room settings, children’s play areas, and a restaurant that serves American food as well as Swedish specialty dishes.

Some may recall IKEA’s new location was originally the site of Blockbuster Golf and Games until the late 1990’s when it became defunct. IKEA scouted for a South Florida location for two years, creating some controversy along the way before securing this easily accessible location. The store is expected to become a destination spot much like the nearby Sawgrass Mills Mall has been since its opening.  Surrounding the new IKEA store will be several high-end boutiques as well as new eateries.

The Sunrise, Florida, IKEA is expected to create approximately 400 jobs in an area that already has a low unemployment rate.  Prospective employees are welcome to apply for various store positions.   If you know anyone in Central Florida, a second Florida store – the Orlando IKEA – is scheduled to open on November 14, 2007.

Certainly, there is much competition among South Florida furniture stores but with the population of South Florida continuing to increase, I suspect one more furniture store won’t impact other area stores very much.  No doubt, some of the 396 owners of the new Tao condos (which are nearing completion) or the hundreds of buyers of Artesia condos will be visiting some of the nearly dozen nearby furniture stores.