Hot property

Showcasing some standout sales—from peerless penthouses to record-breaking houses

THE PAST YEAR has been busy for Christie’s International Real Estate and its global network of affiliates, and there have been a number of significant sales, not least Bali Hai, the Florida estate of movie producer Jon Landau, which went under contract for $13,999,000 in just six days. The property, located in Islamorada, comprises six bedrooms, five bathrooms, and one half-bathroom within 6,050 square feet (562 sq m) of living space on almost four beachfront acres (1.6 ha), and has a deep-water, 300-foot (91.4 m) dock with two lifts that’s ideal for the boating enthusiast.

Also in Florida is Asia Penthouse One on Brickell Key Drive, which was sold by Jordan Lederman of The Lederman Group Fortune International Realty for $7 million. The three-level smart home has six bedrooms, six full and two half bathrooms, and four terraces that boast almost 2,000 square feet (185.8 sq m) of outdoor living space. A private rooftop pool is the perfect spot for taking in those views of downtown Miami. “Apart from being a trophy penthouse, what makes this property one of the nicest penthouses in all of Miami is the location,” says Lederman. “Just a few steps away from the Brickell neighborhood, which is Miami’s financial district and often referred to as the Manhattan of Miami, lies the island of Brickell Key. Asia Condominium is the most premier building on Brickell Key, and Penthouse One is a true mansion in the sky. This sale was the highest-priced sale in Asia Condominium and on all of Brickell Key Island in 2022.”

Another notable Miami sale with views is the penthouse at the LEED-certified residential tower Rise Brickell City Centre, also in the heart of Miami’s financial district. “The location is the hottest in Miami right now,” says Allison Ortiz of Fortune International Realty, who closed the sale at $6,400,000.

Records were broken in Houston, Texas, in 2022 when a grand 21,500-square-foot (1,997.4 sq m) Neoclassical estate on River Oak Boulevard, once home to the late Baron Ricky di Portanova and

Baroness Alessandra di Portanova, sold for a record $16 million in less than one month. The sale was overseen by Nancy Almodovar, CEO of Nan and Company Properties.

In Ottawa, Canada, a two-story home with amazing views of the old village of Rockcliffe Park can now claim to be one of the most expensive houses ever sold in the city. The 7,000-square-foot (650.3 sq m) seven-bedroom, six-bathroom residence on Manor Avenue was listed at C$7 million through Reba Wilson and Marilyn Wilson of Marilyn Wilson Dream Properties® Inc., though the final sale price is not disclosed.

When a client was looking for a turnkey residence close to the beach in Tybee Island, Georgia, Staci Donegan of Seabolt Real Estate perfectly answered the brief with a beautiful house with deeded private beach access just a few steps away. It has four bedrooms, including two vast primary bedrooms with en suite baths, as well as outside space with a pool, tiled deck, hot tub,

Penthouse One

and propane firepit. The property also has a two-car garage and golf cart garage, and was sold furnished.

“Tybee Island, Georgia, is a vibrant oceanfront community with miles of public beaches and a laid-back lifestyle. My clients spend a lot of time in Savannah, just 20 minutes from Tybee Island, and were looking for a beach retreat they could share with family and friends. They fell in love with this elegant beach house on Bay Street, which is located steps from the beach and offers incredible water views,” says Donegan.

Also close to the water’s edge, in Elbow Cay, Abaco, Bahamas, H.G. Christie Ltd sold the fully renovated, turnkey, threebedroom, two-bathroom Halcyon House. The home has a comfortable open floor plan with large covered decks overlooking the Sea of Abaco, and has a proven rental history.

It was also a good year in 2022 for property in Dubai, particularly when Jacqueline Johns and Dinesh Chhatwani, principals at Christie’s International Real Estate Dubai, along with Abdul Kader Kara, director of sales, oversaw the sale of a $100,000,000 canal-facing residential building. Strict confidentiality clauses preclude divulging further details of the landmark sale.