W
elcome to The Dirt, where I'm Darrell Hofheinz, real estate writer at the Palm Beach Daily News, filling in for Kim Miller this week. With Kim on a break, you can expect a slightly less snarky newsletter - but don't worry, I won't try to fill her shoes. Now that Donald Trump has been elected president, Palm Beach is back in the international spotlight, thanks to his Mar-a-Lago Club, which will soon become his official residence.
As it turns out, Trump's private club and its 17.5 ocean-to-lake acres have been valued at around $2 million in county property taxes, according to our analysis of nine of his properties in the new tax rolls. You can read more about that, as well as find out about Trump's other tax bills.
In other Palm Beach news, we're taking a look at the recent sale of Jimmy Buffett's cottage for $6.11 million and exploring a larger transaction on the inlet. We'll also be reporting on some news from Palm Beach Gardens involving the PGA National Resort & Spa.
Jimmy Buffett's cottage sells for $6.11 million
While Trump may have been the biggest name in Palm Beach real estate news recently, Jimmy Buffett was another notable seller. The singer bought and sold millions of dollars' worth of property on the island over the years, and one of his homes just changed hands for $6.11 million.
The buyer has ties to Canada, which is perfect for a winter getaway. The house itself is a historic cottage that fits Buffett's laid-back image.
Billionaire buys $38M home on the inlet
Dr. Herbert "Herbie" A. Wertheim, a billionaire entrepreneur and philanthropist, just paid $38 million for a renovated house facing the inlet at the northern tip of the island. The view from his new property is stunning, and it's clear he has an eye for real estate.
Is PGA National Resort & Spa changing hands?
The PGA National Resort and Spa in Palm Beach Gardens may be under contract to be sold to Henderson Park, a British private-equity firm, for up to $425 million. If the sale goes through, the resort will reportedly be managed by Salamander Hotels, led by Sheila Johnson.
As Kim would say, "Live lightly."
