Meet Some of Miami’s Luxury Home Builders
A favorite destination for well over a century, the city of Miami, Florida offers newcomers a unique combination of historical features, idyllic weather, and eccentric lifestyles.
As Miami has more than its share of wealthy residents, it also has more than its share of luxury home builders and developers capable of producing multi-million dollar residences.
If you’re wondering if business is good for these builders, the answer is “definitely,” and here’s why.
A December 2023 report found that Miami is one of the top 50 places in the world for millionaires.
Currently, over 35,000 millionaires and 15 billionaires have made themselves at home in the city. Miami has also seen a 78% increase in millionaire residents over the past ten years.
What Makes Miami’s Luxury Home Builders Truly Unique
From gated mansions to luxury-branded condominium residences, Miami’s luxury home builders and developers play an essential role in these creations.
Part of their success depends on their knowledge of the ultra-rich and the psychology behind their purchase decisions.
These buyers often have near-unlimited funds and display deep loyalty to several luxury brands.
Observant builders have often formed partnerships with various developers, designers, architects, and representatives of these brands to benefit from these loyalties by providing live-in extensions.
These partnerships enable builders to create residences with unexpected, rare amenities.
For example, residents of the Porsche Design Tower are the only ones with access to the Dezervator. This one-of-a-kind elevator transports residents and their cars to their units.
One of Miami’s top builders, Dezer Development, brought this condominium residence to life.
Let’s take a closer look.
#1: Dezer Development
Founder Michael Dezer didn’t start out in Miami. From 1970 to 1985, he developed less-popular areas of New York City, such as the Chelsea manufacturing district, transforming them into desirable neighborhoods.
He was also the first NYC developer to convert factory buildings into luxury office properties.
Michael shifted his attention to Miami in 1985, eventually bringing the Porsche Design Tower to life with his son Gil (the current president of Dezer Development).
Gil negotiated financing in the form of a $214 million construction loan from Wells Fargo. This made headlines as it was the largest sum financed for the area after the 2008-09 recession.
#2: The Related Group
While this builder/developer group doesn’t limit their projects to luxury residences, their dedication to creating distinctive, dynamic communities has resulted in over 100,000 condominium and apartment residences in Miami and other Florida destinations.
Led by founder Jorge M. Pérez, a 40-year veteran of South Florida residential development, the Related Group has developed more than 65,000 luxury real estate units valued at over $20 billion.
Some of the group’s recent Miami-area builds include The Baccarat Residences, Casa Bella Residences by B&B Italia, The St Regis Residences, and Six Fisher Island.
Another project under construction, The NoMad Residences, is expected to cater to younger, well-traveled residents. Many of the smaller units carry six-figure preconstruction price tags. However, luxury will still be all around, with fine dining and artwork for all residents to enjoy when the build is completed in 2026.
#3: Château Group
Even though their corporation’s name may sound French, father and son duo Sergio and Manuel Grosskopf have concentrated on projects in Miami and Argentina, including prestigious luxury condominiums in Miami and Buenos Aires.
The Château Group’s Miami projects include Château Beach Residences, a luxury high-rise condominium in Sunny Isles Beach, and FENDI Château Residences in Surfside, the first development branded by Rome couturiers House of FENDI.
Most recently, the Grosskopfs worked with Fortune International (our next featured builder) to develop the Ritz-Carlton Residences on Sunny Isles Beach.
Designed by Miami architectural group Arquitectonica and Michele Bönan, the 52-story condominium tower is managed by the Ritz-Carlton Group.
#4: Fortune International Group
When you see the word Fortune online, you may expect to see the business magazine that publishes the Fortune 500 - not a leading Miami luxury developer.
Like many other stories here, Fortune International didn’t start out as a developer. Instead, it began life as an international realty company founded by Argentine-born Edgardo Defortuna in 1983.
He was wildly successful in bringing luxury buyers from North and South America to Miami.
In the early 1990s, Fortune Development Sales was created to provide on-site sales representation for condominium project developers. In less than ten years, Fortune International Group was created.
Defortuna managed to turn his initial vision 360 degrees by carefully managing resources and relationships.
While some wonder how Defortuna manages to work with other developers who could be his competitors, his quiet approach has earned him the nickname the “condo whisperer.”
Owner of the Casa Tua membership-only residences, Miky Grendene, described him as a smooth operator. “He never gets upset. He doesn’t talk much. And when he talks, it’s always very interesting.”
#5: CMC Group
Many of Miami’s most successful business leaders don’t stop with one big success, and CMC Group’s Ugo Columbo is perhaps one the most well-known. CEO of one of Miami’s leading development firms, he redefined luxury living in the city before moving on to automotive dealerships.
A native of Milan, Italy, Colombo’s real estate career began while he was a student at the University of Miami.
After acquiring and selling units in two Brickell Avenue condominium buildings, he focused on designing and building luxury condominium residences on Brickell Avenue, Miami Beach, and Aventura.
"I am driven by the desire to create elegant spaces.
From architecture and interiors to personal services, every decision is aimed at creating this type of experience."
– Ugo Colombo
Other CMC Group developments and acquisitions:
Epic Residences and Hotel, a 55-story luxury condominium and hotel in downtown Miami,
Coconut Grove’s Grovenor House, a 166-unit luxury condominium project;
Beach House 8, a luxury boutique condominium on Miami Beach;
Brickell Flatiron, a 549-unit luxury high-rise;
Finally, the Collection, a luxury automotive dealership with showrooms in Coral Gables and Miami, is another example of their work.
#6: Lennar Corporation
Not every newcomer to Miami prefers the conveniences of a luxury condominium; some prefer traditional single-family residences.
A number of these buyers head to Lennar Corporation’s communities south of downtown Miami, where spacious homes, swimming pools, clubhouses, and other resort-style amenities await.
Even though today’s Lennar Corporation builds homes in 26 states, the company began business in 1954 when founders Gene Fisher and Arnold Rosen formed F&R Builders in (you guessed it) Miami.
Leonard Miller replaced Gene Fisher in 1956, and the company was renamed Lennar in 1971—a combination of Miller’s and Rosen’s first names.
#7: Terra Group
While this builder and developer is behind several of Miami’s luxury condo developments, founders Pedro and David Martin (father and son) take a responsible, green approach, ensuring that each of their projects positively impacts the city’s residents.
Since 2001, Terra has completed dozens of residential, office, and other major developments. Currently, the builder has about a dozen developments in the pipeline, with over 3,000 residential units either in the preconstruction or construction stages.
One project receiving plenty of media attention: Villa Miami, a 55-story condominium building with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Biscayne Bay.
The lower floors at Villa Miami will offer 20,000 square feet of assorted amenities. Residents will have access to an entire floor of sauna and herbal steam rooms, hot and cold plunges, a pool deck, and a spa.
In addition to traditional high-rise condominiums, Terra is behind other developments, such as Atlantic 15. This private community comprises 15 single-family residences with open-concept floor plans and rooftop terraces with ocean views.
Bringing a progressive, transparent approach to their work, Terra is involved in more than developing and building.
David Martin has proactively integrated green space, renewable energy, and transit connectivity into every new development.
#8: Melo Group
While not as well-known as some other Miami luxury home builders, Melo Group’s claim to fame is the upcoming Aria Reserve, the tallest residential waterfront dual towers in the nation.
These 62-floor condominium residences, which are under construction as of mid-2024, are five minutes from downtown Miami. The various units feature one- to five-bedroom floor plans.
Founded in 1948 by Armando Ferreira de Melo in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the Melo Group has gradually incorporated the entire development process, managing every stage from design to management. Today’s Melo Group is a family affair, with other Melos involved in every project.
Each Melo Group building offers buyers a variety of floor plans and prices. This strategy, combined with advanced land purchases years before construction, has enabled them to complete over 50 projects, including luxury condos Aria on the Bay and 1800 Biscayne Plaza.
#9: Swire Properties
Well-traveled Miami residents, especially those who have visited or emigrated from Asia, will recognize the name Swire Properties.
The company was established in Hong Kong in 1972, when the territory was still a Special Administrative Region, and it was briefly listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 1977.
The company’s interest in Florida began in 1976 when it acquired interest in Tampa developer Berkeley Hambro Inc. In 1978, Swire acquired interests in a joint venture to develop a site on Claughton Island, later renamed Brickell Key.
Today, Swire Properties is an active developer of a variety of building projects, including mixed-use, hospitality, retail and residential.
Currently, Swire is making news with its announcement of preconstruction sales of The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, a two-tower development on Brickell Key.
The South Tower Residences features several ultra-luxury listings, including a $100 million duplex penthouse with 23,000 square feet of indoor and private outdoor space and one of Miami’s highest private infinity pools.
Other residences range from $4.9 million to $17.5 million and represent the last opportunity to purchase a new home on Brickell Key.
