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YOUR HOME IN THE SUN

There’s probably never been a better time to buy that place in the sun. With low interest rates, a cooperative lending environment, and many new and unique real estate possibilities, a luxury home in the sun can be as close as your telephone, computer, or nearest airport. We’ve found several excellent possibilities in South Florida and The Bahamas.

GRAND HARBOR

Vero Beach’s Grand Harbor may harbor the perfect answer to finding your place in the sun, thanks to a wide variety of real estate options, great golf, and a host of other amenities. This 14-year-old community on the Indian River just keeps getting better, thanks to intelligent development and a tireless effort to preserve (and enhance) natural surroundings to create a unique environment where wildlife and residents can intermingle in harmony.

These efforts are definitely apparent on Grand Harbor’s two championship golf courses. Designed by Pete Dye and Joe Lee, the Harbor Course and River Course, respectively, are not just scenic, but also a delight to play. Meticulously maintained, each course appeals to all skill levels.

A sheltered harbor and marina form the waterside gateway in Vero Beach for Grand Harbor. Originally developed on depleted citrus groves surrounded by degraded wetlands, Grand Harbor has spent millions to maintain and increase both saltwater and freshwater marshes. In fact, the community has devoted more than half of its 900 acres to estuary, golf, marina, and freshwater lakes!

Of course, there’s also room for a luxury lifestyle in the sun. Grand Harbor is a private gated community, with amenities like 144-slip deep water marina, luxurious beach club, new tennis complex, grand club house, and more added to the great golf.

Grand Harbor is comprised of 25 individual golf course and waterfront neighborhoods--each of them offering a variety of luxurious floor plans. The newest of these neighborhoods, River Village, is the private country club’s finest residential offering, with pre-construction prices ranging from $600,000 to more than $1 million.

River Village offer a stunning riverfront gallery of both condominium and single-family residences of unparalleled luxury befitting a setting of such rarity and beauty. All River Village homes will enjoy majestic views of the Indian River, waterways, preserve, or golf course. Four single-family home designs of one and two stories epitomize the singular architectural standards established for Grand Harbor. The condominium residences feature just six homes per building, all of which are positioned to afford panoramic views of the cherished river.

Next, The Falls of Grand Harbor will add yet another option to the community. The neighborhood will include walking, jogging, and exercise facilities, as well as a new luxury spa scheduled to open in 2002. Three of the community’s most popular floor plans are available at The Falls, each offering the remarkable beauty and variety by which Grand Harbor has become so successful.

In addition, Grand Harbor recently purchased 77 acres of the nearby Whisper Lakes Golf Club for a new neighborhood of 100 high-end homes. This will be Grand Harbor’s 26th neighborhood, offering yet another grand option in the Grand Harbor tradition.

For further information, visit www.grandharbor.com or call (800) 826-8293.

MURANO GRANDE AT PORTOFINO

If you’re looking for the hottest new ticket in the South Beach sun, Murano Grande at Portofino is the perfect price of admission. It’s not only one of the most luxurious properties to be brought on the market in this hot real estate market, it’s also one of the fastest selling.

Overlooking Miami Marina and boasting 700 linear feet of bayfront and spectacular vistas that defy description, Murano Grande is slated for a premium 4.1-acre site immediately south of bustling Fifth Street. The Soho-style area appropriately dubbed South of Fifth or SoFi, is one of the hottest real estate areas in neon-hot SoBe. From the Atlantic Ocean and cruise ships negotiating Government Cut, to Biscayne Bay and the colorful skyline of downtown Miami, this panoramic canvas provides an idyllic setting for a lifestyle of luxury for lucky Murano Grande residents.

To do justice to the incomparable site, The Related Group retained two of South Florida’s most esteemed and experienced architectural firms. The Sieger Suarez Architectural Partnership and Fullerton Diaz Architects collaborated to design the gracious three-tiered tower that will redefine luxury on South Beach. The community will include towers of 24, 30, and 36 stories, with 18 floor plans and just 260 residences (more than 200 have already sold). Prices currently range from the $300s to more than $5 million, with completion scheduled for May, 2003.

Here, residences from 1,400 square feet up to an incredible 4,000 square feet cater to every creature comfort, starting with private or semi-private high-speed elevators that directly access the formal foyers of each residence, assuring homeowners perfect peace and privacy. Ceilings rising to heights of nine feet immediately enhance the sense of expanse, while finishes of fine imported marble and granite establish the theme of opulence that is played out with floor-to-ceiling glass, oversized private balconies, and (in select residences) incredible see-through floor plans that put all of South Beach literally at the homeowner’s feet.

Murano Grande’s master suites include master baths that early buyers have called works of art. The marble flooring in all wet areas is coordinated with granite vanity tops and double porcelain sinks. Completing the picture are a whirlpool tub and glass-enclosed shower, as well as an elongated commode and European-style bidet. Room-sized walk-in closets feature enough capacity to accommodate even the most dedicated South Florida fashion aficionado.

The kitchens are a gourmet cook’s dream, with granite countertops, imported European custom cabinetry, and top-of-the-line appliances that include a Sub-Zero built-in refrigerator/freezer with cabinetry-matching front panels. Select floor plans even feature state-of-the-art wine chillers and spacious eat-in breakfast areas.

But residential luxury is only part of the total Murano Grande story. The on-site amenities and services also allow residents to enjoy South Beach’s good life at its very best. These include a grand porte-cochere entrance and lobby, a heated bayfront pool and complete spa, lighted tennis court, secure garage parking, 24-hour concierge, security, and valet services, and lushly landscaped grounds.

Finally, there’s the sophistication of South Beach, which has become a true international Mecca of fine dining, shopping, club-hopping, culture, golden beachfront, and more. Easily accessible highlights include the beach, Ocean Drive, Washington Avenue, Lincoln Road, the Jackie Gleason Theater of the Performing Arts, and much more. Additionally, the located just south of MacArthur Causeway (I-395) puts residents with 15 to 20 minutes of Miami International Airport, the Port of Miami, and the business districts of downtown Miami, Brickell, and Coral Gables.

For further information, visit www.muranogrande.com or call (877) 604-2088 or (305) 604-2088.

OCEAN III

With more than 40,000 units worth more than $2.5 billion in real estate assets, The Related Group is building on the success of Ocean I, Ocean II, Portofino, Murano Grande (see above), and elsewhere, thanks to upscale Ocean III in South Florida’s Sunny Isles Beach. For Ocean III, The Related Group is again collaborating with The Sieger Suarez Architectural Partnership to deliver a lifestyle of distinctive luxury, comfort, and convenience.

Ocean III is earmarked for a 3.2-acre oceanfront site in Sunny Isles Beach, a city that is considered to be the last oceanfront jewel along Miami-Dade’s shoreline. In fact, Ocean III is already shaping up to be an even quicker success than Ocean I and Ocean II, with record-breaking sales that reached 70% in less than months. The 37-story complex will feature 215 residences and six floorplans ranging in size from about 1,600 square feet to more than 4,000 square feet. Its sleek design is a departure for oceanfront towers in the area, giving it a feel that’s more Milan than Miami.

Ocean III’s unique Y-shaped architectural design has given rise to floor plans that are surrounded by glass, in addition to flow-through models that span the entire floor (with walls of glass overlooking both sunrise and sunset panoramas). Seen from overhead, the tower’s unique ‘Y’ shape creates three wings. At the tip of each is a three-sided luxury residence the size of a beach house, which happy buyers are dubbing ‘beach houses in the sky.’ At the interior of the tower’s wings, other residences include equally unique see-through floor plans.

But Ocean III’s beachfront also gets top billing, with Dade County plans in place to begin widening and renourishment of a 2 1/2-mile stretch of coastline extending from Haulover Park to Golden Beach and including Ocean III’s beach, which will expand to 300 feet in width. The project, which should be completed about early-2002, will also include structures to reduce wave energy and subsequent erosion in order to preserve the newly widened white sand beach. More than a dozen private beach cabanas are planned for Ocean III owners.

Ocean III’s residences are equally spacious, with estate-sized homes of up to 4,000 square feet. All residences include oversized private balconies and the finest granite and marble finishes, as well as imported Italian kitchens with custom-designed European cabinetry. Most owners will enjoy private elevator access. In fact, from the grand lobby and rooftop spa to 2 1/2 miles of pristine beachfront, Ocean III is setting a new standard in private and luxurious oceanfront living.

An imposing porte-cochere entrance sets the stage for the grand lobby, where a curving staircase climbs the 2 1/2-story marble interior to a reception area and oceanview fitness center and two-story spa. The Ocean III rooftop, 400 feet above the ocean, features an open-air terrace and Jacuzzi spa. It’s the perfect spot for unwinding after a busy day or enjoying a nightcap with dinner guests that includes the ocean, Intracoastal Waterway, and city skyline as panoramic backdrops for the Ocean III lifestyle.

Ocean III also features 24-hour security, valet and concierge services, multi-level garage parking, tennis curt, oversized beachfront swimming pool, and more, as well as a Sunny Isles Beach location that puts residents within minutes of Bal Harbour and South Beach, as well as downtown Hollywood and Ft. Lauderdale. To make globetrotting fast and easy, Ocean III homeowners have access to international airports in both Broward and Miami-Dade counties.

For further information, visit www.oceanIII.com or call (305) 682-2222.