Brazilian football star Neymar da Silva Santos, Jr. has purchased an empty waterfront lot in Miami for $26 million, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. The property is located in the upscale Bal Harbour area.
The land, which is less than an acre in size, has been listed for sale before at higher prices, including $30.5 million and $28.5 million earlier this year, according to Zillow. It appears that Neymar was able to secure a good deal. However, since the lot is vacant, he will need to build on it. The Wall Street Journal mentioned that the purchase includes approved plans for a 13,000-square-foot house designed by the London-based firm Elicyon. Listing agents Ruthie Assouline and Ethan Assouline of Douglas Elliman chose not to comment on the matter.
The buyer’s representative, Bento Queiroz of Compass, declined to disclose the identity of his client but mentioned that the privacy and security of the gated community, along with the size of the property, were key factors in the purchase decision. “It came together rather quickly once we found the opportunity,” Queiroz stated. “The buyer said, ‘it’s exactly what I’m looking for.'”
Property records indicate that the seller is likely Bent Philipson, the founder of Philosophy Care, a consulting firm for nursing homes and elder care facilities. Philipson and his wife reportedly bought the property four years ago for $9.3 million. However, he could not be reached for comment, as per the Journal’s report.
Notably, another football star, Lionel Messi, purchased a waterfront mansion in Fort Lauderdale last year for $10.75 million. The estate, located in the gated community of Bay Colony, features 10 bedrooms, nine-and-a-half bathrooms, a pool, three-car garage, and floor-to-ceiling windows. Messi made the purchase in the same year he joined the Inter Miami soccer team. Could Neymar be considering a similar move? Only time will tell.
On average, home values in Bal Harbour, where Neymar’s new property is situated, are nearly $2 million, while in Bay Colony, they are close to $5 million, according to Zillow. Both areas have experienced an increase in property prices over the past year. However, this growth is not uniform across Florida, a state prone to natural disasters, insurance challenges, and escalating property taxes. As a result, many of the state’s previously booming real estate markets have cooled off.