Tired of Winter Up North? Nika Getting You Down? Move to FL.. Al Capone's House For Sale.. Again..

Nika rages on up north making more headlines across the Country. and after Nika comes Orion which may or may not create an Ice Storm across parts of the South with More SNOW and Wintry Mix.

Brad Panovich in Charlotte is rapidly becoming one of my favorite "weathermen" in North Carolina. Here are two pictures of what the NEXT storm NEXT week MAY do...

up close & personal

Today's blog is going to be more about Miami Real Estate and less about pictures of snow up north. I know so many people who are thinking "If I only won the lotto I'd move to Miami and buy a mansion surrounded with palm trees and never shovel snow again!!"

Today's blog was inspired by my youngest son Zalmy who lives in Miami and studies architecture and loves Miami History about as much as the rest of his family. He posted a link online to the big story about Al Capone's home being back on the market. Basically it sold for 7 millionish and is being flipped for 8.45 Million..

So.... here's a look at what a few million dollars will buy you. Compare and contrast and enjoy the pictures and if you have the money honey... there ARE some beautiful homes to buy with lots of room for one happy loner, a large family, dogs to play and if you move to the Redlands... you can have a horse and be just minutes away from the Florida Keys.

You see Al Capone's house is back on the market on Palm Island. Understand when Al bought that property out on Palm Island he had one of the only homes there. It was private as the seagull flies and semi-quiet. He could post a few guards and watch out for his enemies. And, by the way, Miami was up in arms that he had moved to Miami bringing with him all the notoriety that famous gangsters brought. The locals tried to get him to leave. Might be worth noting here there were A LOT of gangsters but he was AL CAPONE and the most famous for the St. Valentines Massacre.

He kind of had the run of the island... 

Palm Island NOW... 

just another house on the street where he lived...

That's mind you the Gate House AKA Guard House... 

Hey it's Palm Island NOT Star Island and not Sunset Islands...

when you live there ...there IS a difference..

but the house does come with the legend and the history.

http://miami.curbed.com/archives/2014/02/04/al-capones-house-is-back-on-the-market.php

(the super cute part is sarcastic as they make fun of the inside of the home..

however I think the house is staged more than decorated...)

"The Miami Beach estate of Al Capone, arguably the most legendary mobster of all time, who allegedly planned the St. Valentine's Day Massacre from its very confines, spent his last days slowly waisting away with debilitating syphilis here, and finally, as his very own niece and biggest advocate says "dropped dead" in one of its upstairs bathrooms, is back on the market for $8.45 million, and the new listing photos look just absolutely adorable!"

So for $8.45 Million you can buy Al Capone's old digs on Miami Beach. Note that comes with worrying on historic preservation laws. Mind you those laws are wonderful for the public and a nightmare for owners wanting to make changes.

http://miami.curbed.com/archives/2013/03/25/the-many-benefits-and-yes-annoyances-of-living-in-an-historic-district.php

Lots of old, beautiful historic homes in Miami Beach. I know I lived in one... built in 1926 it was incredible, beautiful and a pain to take care of let alone paint...as even the color had to be approved by City Hall.

Down in the Redlands you can buy a mansion and 10 acres of land to go with it buying you all the privacy Al Capone wanted when he bought one of the only homes on Palm Island before anyone else lived there. Truly a home for a King or Queen or anyone who wants to live like one. And... it's 3 million dollars less than the much smaller property on Palm Island. Actually, almost 3.5 Million less to be exact. 

http://levimeyer.com/22666/dsp_agent_page.php/176327/Our_Listings/MYDX_Property_Search

$4,999,999

6 beds 5/2 baths

13489 sq. ft.

Stunning Mediterranean inspired estate on 10 Private Acres along the Redland Golf & Country Club. This magnificent residence is crafted to perfection blending imported natural elements to form a warm & inviting environment. Enjoy absolute privacy/luxury only 20 min to Pinecrest/Kendall & 45 min to Key Largo. Beautiful landscaping, massive Koi pond, huge terraces, premium appliances, Crestron home-automation, & too many details to list. Come see it, you won't want to leave!

Details

Style: Split Level, Two Story

Roof: Curved/S-Tile Roof

Construction: Cbs Construction, Pre-Cast Concrete Construction

Community Amenities: Other Subdiv/Park Info

Water/Sewer: Septic, Well Water

HVAC: Central Cooling, Central Heat

Appliances: Central Vacuum, Dishwasher, Disposal, Dryer, Fire Alarm, Gas Range, Icemaker, Microwave, Other, Purifier/Sink, Refrigerator, Separate Freezer Included, Washer

View: Garden View, Golf View

Furniture: Unfurnished

Has Fireplace? Yes

Windows: Arched Windows, Bay Window, Other Windows

Flooring: Marble Floors, Other, Wood Floors

Interior Features: Bar, Cooking Island, Fireplace, Foyer Entry, French Doors, Pantry, Split Bedroom

Exterior Features: Barbeque, Built-In Grill, Fence, Open Balcony, Open Porch, Patio

Nearest Body Of Water: Pond Front

Let's compare and contrast:

Al Capone's Kitchen:

Hmnnnn.....

Kitchen in the Redlands... spacious but homey. Nice island..... nice view.

The views are also comparable and both beautiful.. what is 3.5 Million Dollars worth to you?

Nice view.... occurs to me that the Al Capone's house you are buying a view.... less than the actual house. There are a lot of houses on Miami Beach with such views and pools for way less. When Al Capone was there the pool was one of the biggest in town. Now.. it's just a beautiful pool.

That's the view from the home in the Redlands...not Parrot Jungle.. though am sure you can find some parrots.

View from the house...

They both have incredible balconies with incredible views... Redlands is a very private balcony.

No paparazzi there unless they are in a helicopter... what a balcony.. 

The Redland's house does have a beautiful wine cellar :)

Personally the Al Capone house has a beautiful Victrola..where do you get one like that?

Which house would you buy? What is 3.5 Million Dollars worth to you?

It's said that Carl Fisher sold Miami Beach to the world by putting up pictures of bathing beauties on billboards in Time Square in the middle of January with the headline "It's ALWAYS JUNE IN MIAMI!"

Somethings have changed since 1925... but........it IS always June like in Miami :)

I know Miami Beach. I lived there in an old 1926 Roaring 20s home.. big house.

I remember when we planted those palm trees... as part of the MB beautification project..

(didn't have the hedge then.. hedge hides the beauty but people like privacy...)

Front Florida Room... had an awesome view....now hidden behind a hedge :(

That house sold in 2003 for $603,000 and is now worth approximately a Million Dollars.

Mind you when we lived there we had the original 1926 porcelain sink.. kitchen has been upgrade :)

What is a house worth to you?

What is living where you love the weather worth to you?

And, if you are interested in buying a piece of that famous Florida Sunshine.. find a good Realtor and buy a piece of paradise!

That's my son... 3rd generation working in Miami Real Estate... he knows Miami.

https://www.facebook.com/levimeyerre

Truth is this winter complains about the weather up north so it got me thinking ... why do people put up with it if they really want to live in the land of palm trees, hibiscus and soft balmy breezes?

Besos Bobbi

Ps  ...And..as for those legends about Al Capone..

"Capone's Florida Killing: Everyone knowsAl Capone escaped the heat in Chicago in the 1920s by hiding out in Miami Beach. But some will tell you how the gangster protected his territory by slaughtering a rival in the opulent Everglades Suite at the Biltmore Hotel. Problem is, it never happened. Another gangster did shoot a thug namedFatty Walsh in that suite, but Capone never stayed there. In fact, he laid low in the '20s, and when he returned in the '40s, he was so addled by syphilis he was basically a vegetable. "If Capone owned everything in Miami people say he owned, he'd have to have been Henry Flagler," George says."

http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2013-04-11/news/florida-history-myths-al-capone-murder/full/