There aren’t many certainties in the world as we head into the final five months of 2020. But most experts agree the U.S. is entering a prolonged period of “diffusion” that will lead to continued population growth in relocation hotspots like Florida, the Carolinas, Texas and other Sun Belt states.
The luxury real estate market in Martin County, Florida, for one, is surging. People from densely populated areas in the Northeast and Midwest, as well as points south like Miami-Dade County, are cashing out their primary residence to invest in their “vacation home for life.”
No one is sure what travel will look like a year, or even five years, from now. So many people are pivoting to purchase their “forever home” to create a “life on vacation” lifestyle that is physically, mentally and spiritually rewarding.
And these trends will add up to a busy end to the year and start to 2021 according to Sailfish Point Realty Broker and Managing Partner Kristen Cheskaty.
“We had a lull in March, April and the first part of May like everywhere else, but activity ramped back up in June once businesses started reopening and there was more clarity about our path forward,” Cheskaty says. “We’re anticipating a robust fall and peak season as people realize more flexibility by working remotely or opting for early retirement.”
By all accounts, Sailfish Point is ideally positioned for what lies ahead. The 532-acre luxury oceanfront community is a veritable private island, surrounded on three sides by water from the Atlantic Ocean, Indian River and St. Lucie Inlet.
A variety of move-in-ready luxury residences are available to suit a diverse array of buyers, from lock-and-leave townhomes and condos to sumptuous villas and spacious estate homes. Just as importantly, activities and amenities abound.
A recently reimagined 60,000-square-foot clubhouse offers myriad dining options, two-story fitness center, aquatic center, tennis courts, full-service spa and access to a staggering five miles of pristine beach.
Sailfish Point’s nationally-ranked Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course meanders through the coastal community’s waterways and wetlands. Highlights include by the 614-yard par-5 14th hole with the St. Lucie Inlet in the background.
“If you visit our website, we have a video of members discussing their favorite holes and by the time it’s over, they’ve almost mentioned every hole,” says Sailfish Point Golf Club PGA Director of Golf Vic Tortorici. “It’s that kind of golf course – every hole is memorable.”
Golf Course Renovation
As 2021 approaches, Sailfish Point has a major celebration planned for its 40th birthday, and once again, Nicklaus Design will headline the festivities.
Beginning next spring, the golf course will undergo the most comprehensive and impactful renovation in its storied history, one that will forever change the way it’s experienced by members, guests and future residents.
New forward tees will be installed on all 18 holes, creating a 4,500-layout optimized for slower swing speeds. Golfers will reach more greens in regulation, pace of play will improve, and overall enjoyment will skyrocket.
In all, there will be six sets of tees yielding 10 different playing combinations. The back tees will stretch to 7,111 yards, enabling Sailfish Point to continue hosting competitive member events and PGA sectional tournaments.
Plans also calls for a 15% reduction in formal sand areas while retaining the course’s signature high-flashed bunkers. New advanced-tech bunker liners will hold sand in place during those heavy afternoon storms.
Putting surfaces on several greens will be expanded to their original dimensions, allowing for a number of new pin positions and more receptivity for well-struck approach shots.
Currently under construction and slated to reopen in the fall of 2020, the expanded golf practice area will be one of the leading game improvement facilities in Southeast Florida. The range will feature new target greens, providing the look and feel of an actual par 4 to help golfers visualize shots.
The practice putting green has been recontoured and pushed out from 6,500 to 10,000-square-feet. Upgraded irrigation is being installed to nourish the new TifEagle Bermuda grass, which delivers superior putting speed and consistency.
Marina and Yacht Club
Sailfish Point Harbormaster Chris Dempsey has his finger firmly on the pulse of the boating industry. Dempsey, who oversees the 532-acre oceanfront community’s marina and yacht club, also has his nautical eye on one of the country’s leading economic indicators: luxury yacht sales.
“People are buying boats right now to get out on the water, social distance and get away from all the stress of life,” Dempsey says. “Here at Sailfish Point, we have members who love deep sea fishing in the Atlantic Ocean and others who prefer cruising the Intracoastal Waterway.”
Both bodies of water are mere minutes away by boat from the Sailfish Point Marina, home to 84 wet slips, 45 dry slips and an award-winning yacht club. The Gulfstream, teeming with dolphin, wahoo, kingfish and the locally celebrated sailfish, is a major attraction for boaters from all over the U.S. and Canada.
“Stuart [Florida] is the sailfish capital of the world and that helps tremendously in putting Sailfish Point on the radar of avid boaters,” Dempsey says. “This area really resonates with people from coastal areas like Martha’s Vineyard, the Hamptons, Newport [Rhode Island] and Norwalk [Connecticut].”
For those who prefer to explore the aquatic expanse of Florida’s “Treasure Coast,” popular trips include the Bahamas (just 90-miles away) and navigating the 154-mile Okeechobee Waterway from the Atlantic to the Gulf of Mexico.
“We like to say you can get anywhere in the world from here,” Dempsey says with a laugh. “But then again, once you get here, it’s hard to leave.”
Sailfish Point Marina’s new state-of-the art floating dock has increased its capacity by 10 wet slips and helped modernize day-to-day operations.
“With the new floating dock, we were able to replace one floating pier that housed four boats under 55 feet with 14 slips, each capable of housing a 60-foot boat,” Dempsey says. “It moves up and down with the changing tides, so members can get on and off their boats safely.”
Cheskaty says a high percentage of prospective buyers are boaters who enjoy a wide variety of nautical activities. The floating dock will even further elevate Sailfish Point as one of the leading maritime communities in North America.
“For prospective residents who are boat owners or enthusiasts, the floating dock is a real game-changer,” says Cheskaty. “They’re the industry standard for safety and convenience, and ours is a wonderful addition to our world-class marina.”
Boat ownership is by no means a requirement at the Sailfish Point Yacht Club, however. Dempsey often advises members without boats to participate in as many events as possible to get a feel for their maritime passions and interests.
“We have members who fish and members who cruise, some who cross the lines between the two and others that don’t,” he says. “Then there’s the social aspect. The Yacht Club probably has more events than any other club at Sailfish Point.”
A quick tally of the 2019-2020 calendar yields an average of seven events each month, starting in October and running through May. With the majority of residents now living at Sailfish Point year-round, the summer schedule is also chock-full of activities, such as the Summer Rendezvous (held at a different locations each year along the Atlantic Seaboard)
Fishing trips, overnight cruises, day cruises, sailing, kayaking and even educational tours of maritime attractions like the Navy SEAL Museum and Hutchinson Island House of Refuge dot the schedule.
“Whether it’s the Yacht Club, Golf Club, Tennis Center or our myriad of community and philanthropic activities, there’s as much, or as little, as you’d like to do here at Sailfish Point,” says Cheskaty.
For more information on Sailfish Point, visit www.sailfishpoint.com.
Article/images by: Shane Sharp/buffalo.agency/Sailfish Point
