Bal Harbour real estate is highly sought after because it's on the barrier island, known as Miami Beach. It is on the northern tip and offers stunning views of Biscayne Bay as well as the Atlantic Ocean. It's highly walkable and the village of Bal Harbour is only 0.3 square miles of land. Further, it has much to offer its residents, including shopping, high-end real estate, a lot of outdoor recreational opportunities, as well as various restaurants.
There is a lot of shopping to be found throughout Bal Harbour. Residents love the many luxurious shoppes around and there are people who come to shop here from all over the globe.
One of the top shopping centers is Bal Harbour Shops, which offers a significant fashion scene. Some of the top shops include Bvlgari, Chanel, and Dolce & Gabbana, though there are many more to choose from as well. Also, there are several restaurants along with a social scene where fashion designers have come to launch new lines and host special events.
Other shopping can be found throughout Miami Beach and South Beach, all of which can be found on the barrier island. Going a little bit further can yield the shopping adventures in Aventura, which includes the Aventura Mall, which is known for its major department stores. An open air retail destination is found in Aventura as well, known as Village at Gulfstream Park.
The majority of real estate throughout Bal Harbour is in the form of condos and townhouses – and more specifically, luxury towers. It is not uncommon to find condos within the high rises that offer stunning views of the water, which can be enjoyed on expansive balconies. Most of the homes feature two bedrooms – less than 10% of the real estate within the market offer floorplans with 4 or more bedrooms. Even the older high rises have been remodeled, featuring modern amenities, such as granite countertops, crown molding, Italian architecture, as well as state of the art appliances within the kitchen. The homes are located west of Collins Avenue and the single family homes found on Biscayne Bay are the ones that have some of the largest land plots throughout the area. Some homes are known to have bayfront views and feature more than 10,000-square-feet of living space.
The architecture is another reason that the real estate is so premium. It can be found throughout the area, which includes the Bal Harbour Shops. The shops have some of the latest technology, featuring a retractable fabric canopy. It is for the inner courtyard, ideal for shielding from harsh sunlight or rain whenever special events take place. New modern designs have been found throughout Bal Harbour for the homes. One home, designed by architect Chad Oppenheim, even made it into Architectural Digest because of the 20,200-square-foot floorplan, complete with retractable glass doors that lead out to a terrace, premium features such as American and Belgian white oak, as well as travertine flooring. The home is selling for $36 million.
There are other homes throughout the area that are not quite as expensive, but just as modern and luxurious. Koi ponds, lush gardens, infinity pools, and panoramic waterfront views are being added to more of the homes. Some even have a rooftop hot tub just to set them over the edge of being something different, with impressive scenes.
Outdoor recreation reigns supreme throughout Bal Harbour as there is much to do. The year-round weather makes it that much easier to go out and enjoy the sand and surf. The northern point of the island offers water from the Atlantic Ocean as well as Biscayne Bay. This makes it possible to choose the type of water to have the activities in – surfing in the ocean or perhaps stand up paddle boarding on the bay.
There is Halover Beach Park, which offers one and half miles of beaches. It is also the only nude-friendly beach in all of Miami.
There's kite flying, charter fishing trips to be had from the island, and much more. There is a little something for everyone, so it is all a matter of choosing whether you want to spend your time on land or to go out on the water. Various marinas are found in the area and boat rentals come in the form of canoes, kayaks, sport fishing boats, yachts, and more.
Many of the condos feature tennis courts, basketball courts, and gyms. There are options for other sports throughout the village as well. It's possible to play volleyball on the beach, take advantage of Pilates and yoga in the sand, and take a trip into some of the neighboring areas for a round of golf or two – on courses that offer beautiful views of the water and are highly sought after by some of the best golfers around the world.
One exciting thing to know about Bal Harbour is that there are no fast food restaurants. Instead, residents prefer to enjoy the finer cuisines – and the restaurants are reflective of their exquisite taste in food.
Quite a few celebrity chefs have made their way into Miami Beach as well. Jeff McInnis, Michael Schwartz, Adrianne Calvo, Gaston Acurio, Michelle Bernstein, Hung Huynh, and a long list of others have entered the culinary scene in Miami to bring some of their specialties to the foodies of the area. Many of the chefs are James Beard winners or nominees and/or have competed on food competitions such as Top Chef. People from around the country choose to at least visit Miami Beach for the food and those who fall in love with the surroundings will often look into Bal Harbour as a place to live because it's close to the food without being surrounded by the nightlife.
There are almost always a farmer's market going on in Miami Beach – and Bal Harbour has them at the Bal Harbour Shops. It's where more than two dozen farmers get together to bring a little taste of South Florida to everyone. It's possible to watch cooking demos and see pet owners out with their dogs and young parents with babies in strollers.
Everyone seems to be a foodie in Bal Harbour, which is why the farmer's markets have been popular. It is one of the best places to go and get produce, and it's a simple way of finding out what fruits and vegetables are currently in season.
Some of the other farmer's markets throughout the area include Aventura Mall Market, Lincoln Road Farmers Market, and Las Olas Outdoor Gourmet Market. The times can change and so it's always a good idea to see when they're going on as a way of helping the local economy and getting a taste of what's fresh.
