Lionel Messi Bought a $10.8 Million Home
Superstar soccer player Lionel Messi is bringing attention to the game not only in Miami but across the United States. His $10.75 million estate purchase has attracted interest from all around the world to the gated enclave in Fort Lauderdale where he currently resides.
Following his triumph in the World Cup in Qatar last year, Lionel Messi Mania arrived in Miami when the 36-year-old striker signed with Inter Miami CF earlier this summer. Both die-hard supporters and more recent converts waited in line for tickets and merchandise. Industry experts stated that even while the real estate market might not go as crazy, it is still susceptible to exaggeration.
According to Chad Carroll of the Carroll Group at Compass, “a buyer with a massive international following is a magnet for attention, and ever since the news broke that Messi was house hunting in Fort Lauderdale, and then closed on a home in Bay Colony, all eyes have been on the area.” “The neighborhood is already among the most exclusive in the city; a new, high-profile neighbor like Lionel Messi will up the ante.”
According to Carroll, Bay Colony is an island community of roughly 100 waterfront houses that draws people who enjoy boating and want the highest level of protection because it is guarded around-the-clock. Zillow estimates that the average cost of a house in the area is $4.6 million.
Since Lionel Messi and model Antonela Roccuzzo bought the nearly 10,500-square-foot mansion together, they have drawn attention to the area. According to Samuel and Donna Simpkin of Compass’s Team Simpkin, who are the Inter Miami CF’s exclusive real estate agents, this attention can “create a stronger demand in the community and create a new price benchmark for future sales.”
However, some point out that although a purchase with a well-known name can draw attention to the neighbourhood, Ron Shuffield, president and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices EWM Realty, believes it is unlikely to affect values.
The fact that a buyer lives next door to a superstar doesn’t always mean that they will pay a million dollars more, he claimed. As a result of the celebrity praising the community for its amenities and standing, “it’s a collective, positive stamp for a neighborhood and it certainly adds to the reason why people might want to move to said location or why it might be more of a draw.”
Shuffield also mentioned how well-liked the Fort Lauderdale region is outside of Bay Colony.
“Our sister cities, from the southernmost tip of Key West to the northern reaches of Palm Beach County, have continued to grow in their appeal among consumers, even though Miami will always be the global brand of South Florida,” he stated. One excellent illustration of this is Fort Lauderdale. The city’s administration has taken the initiative to transform Ft. Lauderdale from a popular spring break resort to a booming economic hub and a top choice for long-term residents.
Stadium preparations are being pushed further by Lionel Messi’s arrival on the scene.
According to a statement from Cyril Bijaoui of the Corcoran Group, “Lionel Messi moving to South Florida has been big news, and it has absolutely impacted everything,” stressing that even the work of Inter Miami’s stadium has finally begun. “This will undoubtedly benefit future sales in the neighborhood and surrounding areas.”
Jennifer Abbott of ONE Sotheby’s International Realty sold the house off-market.
The last recorded price for the home was $9 million in 2022, citing PropertyShark records. The sellers, who received a 20% return, could not be reached for comment. She choose not to respond.
Based in Toronto, designer Lori Morris created the eight-bedroom, nine-and-a-half-bathroom residence, which was constructed in 1988, per a 2022 listing. According to the listing, there is 1,600 square feet of principal bedroom suite, two docks, a gymnasium and spa area, an office, and 170 feet of waterfront. Rais did not respond to a request for comment right away.
“I believe Lionel Messi’s purchase will cause prices to skyrocket because homes in Bay Colony don’t trade often, so inventory is limited,” Carroll stated. “It is located less than a mile from one of the most prestigious private schools in South Florida, and is one of the few neighborhoods with armed security available around-the-clock.”
