Miami Historic Hotel Buyer

An investment banker friend from Hollywood, CA asked me to find a historic hotel in Miami for one of his clients.   Summer is the slow season for Palm Beach real estate and this was a great excuse to spend a weekend on South Beach.  After an afternoon of hunting on Loopnet, I found several that were on the National Historic Register.  

Off to South Beach (a.k.a. SoBe).

The first property was a beautiful mansion that was converted to a hotel on Collins Ave, a block east of the beach.   The Realtor said it was OK to show and I was cleared with the front desk to see all the vacant rooms.

I got to the hotel and the iron entry gate on Collins Ave was locked.  I saw a maid cleaning outside and she came over to let me in.  She didn’t speak English too well and I was trying to find out where the front desk was located because it wasn’t obvious.  This was a mansion, not your typical hotel layout.

South Beach Mansion / Hotel

The maid pointed to the brown door in the photo.  I checked out the pool and eventually made my way to front desk…or so I thought.

When I opened the door, I was quite shocked to see a couple in bed.  OMG!!!!  I ran out the door.  

I never found the front desk… that’s all I needed to see.   The rooms looked really nice.

German Shepherd Protects Owners

During the great market crash of 2010, I was looking to buy a pre-foreclosure waterfront home in North Palm Beach, Florida.   I met the Palm Beach Realtor at the house he knocked on the door prior to entering.

 

A German Shepard was on the other side barking really loud and he sounded viscous.   I love dogs, but this one was seriously mad.  The agent kept screaming the dog’s name and telling him to “go to his room.”   After about 5 minutes of screaming and barking it got quiet and Realtor said it was OK to go in. 

When we got to the master bedroom, the agent walked in and came back out quickly.  He said it was OK to look at the master, “just do it quietly because the tenants are asleep.”   No joke, there was a couple in bed that didn’t wake up from all the noise.   He said they party a lot and didn't seem surprised.   Really?

I Like You.... BUTT

I was showing a $4M+ home on the island of Palm Beach and arrived a few minutes before my buyer.  The seller was a Palm Beach Realtor that I knew quite well.  

We walked to the backyard and I saw this huge animal the size of a horse playing with a few stuffed toys.   I had no idea what it was, and just as I started to ask, this huge Mastiff came running at me full speed.  The owner tried to call him off, but it didn’t work.

 

The dog thought my butt was one of his toys and latched onto my right cheek.  I knew he was only playing, butt he locked on tight and was growling and drooling all over me.  The owner ran for one of his toys because he knew that was the only way to get him off me.  When he finally let go we had a good laugh and he offered to buy me new pants.

Before the owner had a chance to put the dog away, my customer walked in the backyard and the dog started running towards him.  My client started screaming like a girl and ran out the front door.