This is a bit of an interesting story. Real estate broker associate Chad Gray and the Luxury Living Fort Lauderdale group sold this magnificent property for the second time in two years. The result netted our clients a handsome return of their investment, while the new owners are super happy with their new estate.
534 Bontona Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Casa Bella Fortuna is a 5 bedroom, 6 bathroom, 5 half bathroom residence situated on a 0.92 acre, double point lot off the popular Intracoastal Waterway. The property has 750 feet of water frontage, which is inclusive of 350 feet of dockage. Located in the Las Olas Isles, this unique home was inspired by the Doge’s Palace in Venice, Italy.
Once you pass the double iron gates and head up the winding driveway, you are instantly transported to another time in history where workmanship and attention to detail were heralded. Though the home was built in 2015, the design is timeless and the landscaping looks mature. Each tree and plant along the driveway and around the property was carefully chosen and look as though they have been in place for decades.
Casa Bella Fortuna displays tasteful opulence throughout. The residence modestly displays lavish materials from rich hardwoods and custom marble slabs to hand-painted Portuguese wall tiles and “mosaicos hidrálico” floor tiles, to Venetian plaster and Coquina pavers, to hand made English lanterns and antique light fixtures.
A unique touch of opulence came from Leonard Pardon, whose intricate hand-painted walls and ceilings complement the home beautifully. Pardon is one of the world’s renowned leaders in the field of faux painting. He traveled extensively to practice his craft, painting for such illustrious people as the Queen of England and the Sultans of Oman and Brunei. Pardon died May 2018. His artistry at Casa Bella Fortuna was one of his last pieces of work. One can see his signature in key places throughout the home.
The home has a long list of features fit for a royal family. There is a master sanctuary with King and Queen suites. The formal living and dining rooms have breathtaking views of the Intracoastal Waterway. The Chef’s kitchen is joined by a full-service butler’s pantry. Above the over-sized 4-car garage is unfinished space that can be converted into staff quarters. There is a library, 2 home offices, gym, massage room, Venetian-style 27,500-gallon saltwater swimming pool, 5-hole golf chipping and putting green, 2nd-floor additional kitchen and laundry facilities, whisper ride elevator, commercial-grade generator for the entire property with municipal gas and an underground propane tank, and a state of the art security system.
Award Winning
Casa Bella Fortuna was the recipient of the following awards:
- Addison Mizner Award for Craftsmanship – 2015
- 9 Construction Association of South Florida (CASF) Craftsmanship Awards – 2015
- Landscaping
- Stonework – Cast/Carved
- Metal Fabrication
- Cabinetry
- Woodworking
- Flooring – Stone
- Paint & Decorating
- Plaster – Ceilings
- Stucco
- Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association (FNGLA) – 2016
- New Installation – Residential/Single-Family
Property Originally Sold At Auction
Chad represented ours clients at the auction where this home was sold. Armed with market data, a custom home valuation, his clients on FaceTime and a member of the Luxury Living Fort Lauderdale group to help watch the auction, Chad successfully navigated the process. The auction lasted about 10 nail-biting minutes, with bidders online and in-person. In the end, the gavel went down, the auctioneer declared “SOLD” and pointed to Chad as having the winning bid for our clients of $17,360,000.
Property Resold Two Years Later
Our clients enjoyed their two years at Casa Bella Fortuna. A few key upgrades were added to the home, including a floating dock on two sides of the property, an overflow parking area with fountain and pavers surrounded by artificial grass in the backyard.
As expected, the value of the property continued to increase, which lead our clients to make the smart decision to sell. The result was almost a 29% return on their investment (before improvements)!
Property Details
534 Bontona Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
List Price: $24,999,000.00
Sold Price: $24,250,000.00
Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 6
Half Bathrooms: 5
Square Feet: 17,352
Year Built: 2015
Who To Contact
Chad Gray
754-300-6040
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