Mast Capital and AvalonBay Communities recently delivered the 254-unit luxury apartment tower, Avalon Merrick Park, in Coral Gables.  Located at 3811 Shipping Ave., the community offers a variety of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments ranging from 456 to 1,530 square feet. Interiors have quartz countertops, stainless-steel appliances, tile backsplashes, LED lighting and hard-surface flooring.  Community amenities include an elevated, resort-style swimming pool with infinity edge and ocean views, fitness center and yoga studio, resident lounge with coworking spaces and pet ..read more

A six-acre castle estate blends medieval and modern elements — and it’s for sale in Barrington, Illinois. Listed for $1.75 million, this unique suburban property features five bedrooms, six bathrooms and 10,000 square feet of living space within its regal stone walls. Other features include herringbone wood floors, tin ceilings, a majestic fireplace and an indoor pool. Robbie Morrison of Coldwell Banker Realty is handling the sale ..read more

What was your most interesting job before going into real estate? During high school, I worked with the seals at the Miami Seaquarium. Where did you grow up? Miami Growing up, what did you want to be? I wanted to be in law enforcement. What do you do to relax when you’re stressed? Go fishing. If you could meet any well-known figure (living or not), who would it be and why? I would like to meet Warren Buffett because he has great knowledge about investing. Where is South Florida’s best-kept secret? Pasta e Basta, an authentic Italian restaurant in Miami that focuses on handmade pasta dishes an ..read more

Brandon Newman has joined Coldwell Banker Real Estate as vice president of marketing. There, he will lead marketing efforts for the network, promoting its narrative through national advertising. Newman, a storyteller, has spent over 15 years working with brands like Aston Martin and Mercedes-Benz USA. Most recently, at Aston Martin, Newman head of marketing for brand’s the North American, Latin American and Canadian regions. At Mercedes-Benz, he was a customer retention manager as well as a digital experience and marketing director. Newman also has an MBA in Legal Studies and Finance from Hofs ..read more

About a year-and-a-half after setting a sales-price record for Miami’s Brickell neighborhood, the 47-story Una Residences condominium tower has topped out.   Construction of the ultra-luxury project, located at 175 NE 25th Road, is expected to wrap up early next year. When finished, the project will offer 135 residences with unobstructed views of the Atlantic Ocean, Key Biscayne, and the Downtown Miami skyline.  The building’s two tri-level penthouses sold for $17.75 million each, which is the highest recorded condominium sale in the Brickell submarket. These residences each spa ..read more

This vibrant, orange stucco home in Palm Springs is even more colorful on the inside. Many of the interior walls are adorned with custom artwork, including a desert mural and a Van Gogh-inspired bathroom ceiling. The three-bedroom, two-bathroom property is listed by Joseph Giacomazzo of Keller Williams Realty EastBay for $406,000. 3231 N. Sandspring Drive (via Joseph Giacomazzo) 3231 N. Sandspring Drive (via Joseph Giacomazzo) 3231 N. Sandspring Drive (via Joseph Giacomazzo ..read more

HomeServices of America has reached a $250 million settlement in the Sitzer-Burnett class-action lawsuit. HomeServices of America, the last defendant to settle in the case, is the largest residential real estate brokerage in the U.S. and is owned by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Energy.  The HomeService settlement covers some of the company’s subsidiaries, including Long & Foster Companies Inc., BHH Affiliates LLC and HSF Affiliates LLC. The plaintiffs had previously reached settlements in the case with the National Association of REALTORS® in the amount of $418 million and for ..read more

It’s the beginning of graduation season, and new grads would be hard pressed to find a better city than Miami to begin their careers, according to a new study.  Online English-learning platform Preply analyzed the 75 largest U.S. cities based on employment opportunities, cultural and social environment, quality of life, educational and professional development, technology and innovation ecosystems and diversity and inclusion, and Miami ranked No. 1.  The study follows a similar one from Apartment Advisor, which ranked Miami No. 7 for recent graduates.  In Preply’s anal ..read more

Laguna Gardens, a 341-unit garden-style apartment development in Miami Gardens, received its temporary certificate of occupancy and has started move-ins.  The project by South Florida’s Cymbal DLT Companies is among the first in Florida to be developed under the state’s Live Local Act, which aims to increase the supply of affordable housing in expensive areas. Tenants earning at or below 120% of the area’s median income qualify for reduced rent.  Located at 20775 NW 17th Ave., the community comprises 10 low-rise buildings on 14 acres next to Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium. Four of the bui ..read more

Chris Hutchens is rejoining Guaranteed Rate in a newly expanded role: producing area manager and senior vice president of mortgage lending. Based out of Wilmington, North Carolina, Hutchens will provide management and mentorship to loan officers there, as well as at a new location in Pinehurst and in surrounding areas. Hutchens previously spent more than eight years at Guaranteed Rate, as a vice president of mortgage lending, before leaving in 2022 to become a branch leader at Movement Mortgage. Reflecting on his return in a press release, Hutchens said, “It’s cliché, but sometimes you don’t k ..read more