| Your Mega Yacht Needs a Home with a Dock... Not a Marina Slip Space! |
Please see the Mega Yacht News below for more on mega yachts, dockage, boat shows and other issues about yachts in South Florida. Check back for more on this often updated page.
Ft. Lauderdale Native Thriving in New Real Estate Niche
Mike Thixton grew up in Fort Lauderdale. In fact, his family has been in the area since the 1920s. Gerald Thixton, Mike's grandfather ran a commercial fishing business in the area and his father Donald Thixton, operated the South Atlantic seafood market located on Las Olas Boulevard, which until the late 1980s was a major provider of seafood to all of the area's restaurants and cruise ships. Growing up in this environment has provided Mike Thixton with a unique understanding of the waterways and canals that surround the Fort Lauderdale area. Mike has successfully translated that knowledge into a highly successful real estate career with Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate, Inc. Mike's specialty focuses on mega yacht properties- homes or condominiums that can accommodate yachts over 90 feet in length. Few match his knowledge of South Florida waterways and deepwater real estate.
"Clients began calling me and telling me that they were planning to relocate their yacht charter businesses of 100 plus foot yachts to Fort Lauderdale. At the time, there were not many marinas that could accommodate yachts of this size. I suggested that they move their search for docking accommodations from marinas to homes, especially irregular or point lots where the yachts would have expanded seawall length. These point lot properties can accommodate mega yachts on the side of their residences and still provide a remarkable water view. For investment purposes, these homes will provide the greatest return as demand is high and supply is low. 90% of the waterfront properties in the Broward County area cannot accommodate yachts this size, so this is where having a specialized knowledge of the area has really enabled me to create a niche for myself," said Mr. Thixton.
In addition to having an in-depth understanding of the local waterways, Mr. Thixton has been able to leverage his local contacts in the dredging, dock building and seawall construction industries to expedite the permitting and construction processes. According to Thixton, "Having been born and raised here, I familiar with the local companies do this type of work and intricacies involved in permitting. It can take two to three months to get all of that in place, I have had success in getting the mega yacht docks built within 30 to 45 days after closing. The mega yachts are really in a class by themselves when it comes to finding docking accommodations. Any realtor can handle a buyer with a 50 to 60 foot yacht, but with mega yachts there are strict laws to abide by and the last thing you want to do is sell someone with 120 foot mega yacht a property without the right setbacks, or find out their boat is too wide for the canal. It is really a fascinating niche because the buyers are as interested in making sure that the docking details are handled properly as they are in the property itself. I pride myself being able to effectively manage every detail of these complex real estate transactions on behalf of my clients."
Fort Lauderdale and Miami are beginning to build more mega yacht marinas but the disadvantages of docking a mega yacht at one of these properties include a potential monthly charge of $10,000-$15,000 in rental fees. "In addition to the obvious financial incentives of investing in some of the most sought after real estate property in the country, mega yacht owners have the added benefit of their crews staying in the residence instead of putting the wear and tear on the boat, not to mention the convenience of walking out the back door and boarding their vessel," added Thixton. If you are a mega yacht enthusiasts, this really is the place to be. In addition to the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, which has grown into one of the largest marine attractions in the world, Fort Lauderdale's New River is home to some of the most qualified custom painting, and refurbishing vendors in the industry. A lot of the owners bring their mega yachts to Fort Lauderdale for these types repairs, so having the yacht docked locally makes repairs that much easier. Fort Lauderdale is truly the Yachting Capital of the World."
Few surpass Mike's knowledge in deepwater real estate and he prides himself on getting his clients this information while providing excellent customer service. If you are a seller in the local area with a property able to accommodate and mega yacht, or a buyer looking for this type of property, please don't hesitate to call Mike Thixton "The Mega Yacht Realtor."
Contact Mike for more information and to see the possibilities of yacht dockage at your private home.
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