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Wealthy
buyers are snapping up million-dollar plus Florida condos
at record rates all along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts,
and newer, even more luxurious condos are rising along the
beaches and waterways.
One
Watermark Place, a 15-story luxury tower in West Palm Beach
overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway and the island town
of Palm Beach, was 96 percent reserved on its first day
at prices ranging up to $8.4 million.
The
attraction? Luxury condos frequently offer a total resort
lifestyle that can include concierge service, health club
and spa, tennis and golf, fine dining, and a whirlwind of
social activities.
For
those interested in spending more time enjoying life and
less time worrying about maintenance of a home, luxury condo
living can translate to la dolce vita.
Adding
to the allure of condominium living in many cases are breathtaking
ocean and waterway views. Many luxury condos have private
beaches, and some have a dock for your boat.
The
issues you will want to carefully explore in purchasing
a luxury condominium are the pretty much same whether you
are paying $10 million or $1,000,000.
Each
condominium has its own unique structure that governs how
it handles such matters as association fees, property taxes,
condo declaration restrictions, bylaws, amenities, etc.
In addition
to inquiring about these, the luxury condo buyer will want
to learn about restrictions on the use of a unit (more may
be better); special assessments for extraordinary repairs;
the financial soundness of the complex; parking provisions;
and any environmental problems.
The
other challenge is that in buying new luxury condos in Florida,
preconstruction sale is common. Many of the prime units
are reserved long before the buildings are completed.
That
gives you a pretty good idea of how appealing this pampered
luxury condo lifestyle is to a growing number of Floridians.
But when you are buying something that only exists on paper,
caution -- and the help of a knowledgable Realtor -- is
obviously wise.
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