Beach condos up for auction this month

Break open the piggy bank: More Florida condos are going on the auction block, including a bunch near the beach an hour's drive northeast of Orlando.

Locally based Stirling Sotheby's International Realty's auction group said Monday it will host its first major international auctions this month. On the block: 27 new, three-bedroom luxury condominiums in Naples, to be sold starting at 11 a.m. Saturday; and 30 luxury condominiums at Ocean Walk in New Smyrna Beach (no relation to Wyndham Ocean Walk Resort in Daytona Beach), with sales starting at 11 a.m. on Jan. 26.

Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby's, said the company has been marketing the auctions throughout Canada, the United Kingdom, western Europe and northeast U.S.

Both events will be "absolute auctions," meaning no minimum bids are required, and all condominiums will be sold regardless of price, Soderstrom said.

Participants can bid via telephone, the Internet or in person at each development.

"Interest in these auctions from international investors and U.S. buyers is quite high," Soderstrom said, based on response so far to the company's marketing efforts.

Source : http://www.orlandosentinel.com/

Florida Condominiums Have a Lot to Offer

First, there’s the convenience. When you live in a Florida condo, there’s no outdoor maintenance that you need to do. You’re able to create the home that you’re looking for, but not have to worry about making time to mow the front lawn or tend the the garden.

Then there’s security. When you live in a community like a condo, you’ll find that you get to know your neighbors - something that, depending on where you live may or may not happen elsewhere.

You’re building equity: when you own a Florida condominium rather than renting an apartment, over time you’ll own your home - and that means that you aren’t putting your money into someone else’s pocket.

Choosing a Florida condominium isn’t going to limit the home options that you have; instead you’ll find that it increases them: it’s all a matter of finding the condo that’s right for you.

Source : http://www.seasideviews.com/

Condo project loses $4.7M judgment

A local company is to lose its struggling Delray Beach condo conversion project to a public sale, a court has ruled.

Palm Beach Gardens-based Enterprise National Bank won the $4.7 million judgment on Dec. 10 in Palm Beach County Circuit Court against Lake Worth-based E.R. Venture Group and its principals, Eric Alfredson and Richard Coluccio. The 35-unit property, at 5458 Via Delray, will be auctioned at 10 a.m., Jan. 17, at the Palm Beach County Courthouse in West Palm Beach.

E.R. Venture Group bought the site from Villa Delray Golf Apartments in September 2005 for $4.4 million, according to county records. At the same time, the buyer took a $5 million loan from Enterprise National Bank.

The property had been apartments since its construction in 1980. The buyer converted it into the Via Delray Condominiums and put units on the market in the $200,000 range.

Only two of the 35 units have been sold, according to county records. That brought E.R. Venture Group a total of $529,800. It made the most recent sale in May.

Enterprise National Bank said E.R. Venture Group missed its June 30 payment and has not paid anything since. The proceeds from the public sale would be used to satisfy some or all of its judgment.

Source : http://southflorida.bizjournals.com/

Palm Beach Hotel condo group sues ballroom over noise

A few weeks after settling a dispute over unpaid wages, the operators of the Palm Ballroom have a new headache: a noise lawsuit filed against the company Monday in Palm Beach County Circuit Court.

Claiming ongoing excessive noise and music, the Palm Beach Hotel Condominium Association sued Palm Beach Resorts International LLC, which operates the ballroom inside the hotel at 235 Sunrise Ave.

The association has been keeping track of noise complaints since March and is seeking a permanent injunction "to abate a nuisance," the suit says.

"Palm Beach Resorts continues to flagrantly violate the Declaration and Noise Standards by emitting loud and excessive noise from Unit C-19 on a frequent basis, which impairs the residents' and visitors' of the association use and enjoyment of their property," the lawsuit states.

The hotel has 295 residential units; the first-floor ballroom is one of 26 commercial units.

The principals of Palm Beach Resorts International are Sumner Kaye and Steve Schwendemann. The latter said the suit's claims are false.

"That's untrue. We have responded (to complaints). We have met with them repetitively," Schwendemann said.

He wouldn't comment further. "It's not appropriate to comment on a pending lawsuit," he said.

For a few months, Schwendemann and Kaye had a protracted standoff with a former chef, Corina Bornia, and her catering staff, who said the company owed them weeks of back pay. The feud included calls to the police, threats of calls to immigration authorities and promises of a lawsuit against the company.

Shortly before Thanksgiving, Kaye and Schwendemann settled with several former workers, although Bornia said some of the amounts paid were less than owed.

The noise lawsuit might not be the last of the company's legal troubles, according to the attorney for a former vendor.

Vincent Rebecca, of Style Entertainment, a talent agency in Coral Springs, produced an Oct. 20 show featuring The Drifters.

Rebecca received $6,000 to pay the entertainers. "But I got stiffed for 50 percent of the production fee," he said.

Kaye "promised me a check on the Wednesday after the show. He said 'meet me at the bank.' Then he said he was sick," Rebecca said. "There were calls and excuses for days."

On Nov. 2, his attorney, Steve Zimmerman of Zimmerman Zimmerman & Miceli in Pompano Beach, sent a letter to Palm Beach Resorts International demanding payment.

Rebecca, who also has a graphics firm, said Kaye also bounced a check for $775 for printing fliers to promote the show.

Zimmerman's letter demanded $2,131 owed for lighting and sound gear and $775 for the fliers.

He said there has been no outcome to the dispute.

"Nothing yet, just talk. We could file a lawsuit for damages (on the production fee) and treble damages for the bounced check. That may be the next step," Zimmerman said.

A vendor closer to home had a similar experience but a better outcome.

Jack Blanchard, co-owner of Stationer on Sunrise, also in The Palm Beach Hotel, created an invitation for Kaye when the ballroom opened.

"It took us four months to get paid," Blanchard said. "We had to dun him."

Local caterer Christine Holbrook was among the people who said Kaye and Schwendemann owed her money. Last week she said she settled with them in a way that was practical for her.

"I said, 'Give me the use of the kitchen for two months, and we're done.' That's all I needed, to use the kitchen," Holbrook said.

A few weeks ago, Scott Hammond of Jupiter announced he had an agreement with Palm Beach Resorts to transfer the ballroom's food and beverage operation to him starting Nov. 23.

"I'll be responsible," he said. "I'll be in charge of paying for all food, liquor, entertainment, personnel. It's a joint venture. They'll be in charge of the building. Kaye will do the shows."

But the arrangement was short-lived, and Hammond is reportedly no longer involved with the ballroom.

Source : http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/

An exceptional new condo resort development on Navarre Beach, Florida

Waterside. The name alone evokes the picture of a calm, serene environment surrounded by quiet waters and sugar-white sand. Welcome to Waterside -- picture perfect Florida living in one extraordinary resort.

Unsurpassed amenities in an intimate, laid-back beach setting, surrounded by the excitement and natural beauty of the Navarre Beach Gulf Coast, make Waterside condos the ultimate family vacation destination that your family will cherish for years to come.

Water is abundant at Waterside Condo. Nestled beside the pristine, protected waters of the Santa Rosa Sound, it’s the ideal spot to stir up some waves on a Jet Ski, build sandcastles on beautiful Navarre Beach, or sail away the afternoon. The resort’s centerpiece is a lazy river where you can float down the gentle currents amid the tropical landscape. The pool area is an oasis of fountains and waterfalls with spacious sun decks and a heated spa area.

The indoor architecture reflects the same attention to detail as the outside beach landscape. Each condominium includes ten-foot ceilings, generous ceramic tile, granite counter tops, stainless steel sinks and custom cabinets and trim work.

Navarre Beach is a vacation spot you will long to return to, or primary beach residence you will be proud to call home, Waterside is an extraordinary investment opportunity and a place where invaluable memories will be made.
Location

Navarre Beach sits beside the Gulf of Mexico in Northwest Florida. Down the coast to the West is Pensacola, Fl. Ft. Walton Beach, Fl, and Destin Fl are to the East.

Waterside Condos & Resorts is located at 7333 White Sands Boulevard, Navarre Beach, Florida 32566.

Exceptional Amenities are Standard:

* 660 feet of white sand beach on Santa Rosa Sound, Navarre Beach Florida.
* Concrete and steel construction, stucco exterior and standing seam metal roof meet or exceed current building codes
* Gated, secured grounds
* Lush, tropical landscaping and preserved natural areas
* Spectacular swimming pool with heated spa area, expansive sun decks and inviting grottos
* Lazy river pool with children’s fountain pool play area
* Community grill area, clubhouse with kitchen, gazebos, tiki bar, arcade and fitness center
* High-speed elevators
* On site rental and property management
* Optional private boat slips, cabanas, covered parking and storage units

A Remarkable Setting

Waterside beach front condo has 660 feet of white sand beach on Santa Rosa Sound. The protected waters of the sound are shallow, close to the beach and perfect for the kids, but then gently slope to deeper water ideal for boating. The Gulf of Mexico is an easy stroll away on the other side of the narrow island.

Source : http://www.preconstructionprograms.com/