Each market within the Haute Residence network is unique in its culture and offerings. Jennifer Leong, Sotheby’s International Realty’s Director of International Developments and Principal of The OG’s - Opulent Group, was recently nominated as Fort Lauderdale Chambers-Board of Directors and Chair Director for the Real Estate and Construction Council. As our Fort Lauderdale real estate leader, she takes Haute Residence on a tour of the best of the best in the Fort Lauderdale, FL, Market.
Best Things To Do
Jennifer states, “ONE WORD, BOATING!” The captivating allure of Fort Lauderdale, FL, is shared through her trusted insider, local perception. The best thing about Fort Lauderdale is that it has 165 miles of scenic inland waterways. Jennifer and her family enjoy dinners via local water taxi or boating with friends as they live on one of the many canals in the city known as the Venice of America. Her daughter is burgeoning on the sailing team at LYC/Lauderdale Yacht Club, where they have made it a necessary factor for her to learn the importance of respecting the water through the discipline of being on the sailing team.
FLL is host to one of the largest boat shows in the world with FLIBS, where The OG’s partner in hosting the most epic events with Haute Living, in waterfront mansion hospitality homes where they yacht tender in VIP clients to and from the boat show. Fort Lauderdale has more than 3000 hours of sunshine a year, which allows Jennifer’s husband & partner, who is a very meticulous landscape architect and the owner of The Greener Group, these robust sunshine hours that showcase and bring his landscape design and architecture background to life with his work all over South Floridas landscape. Their work goes hand in hand.
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Taking things outdoors, the OG’s are working consistently as volunteers in their free time with the animals at the Humane Society of Broward County and ChildNet, which supports abused and abandoned children. Fort Lauderdale's centralized Southern location offers easy weekend getaways to the west coast for mesmerizing sunsets, weekend-30-minute away adventures via plane ride to the Bahamas, as they represent five-star luxury brands like Rosewood Baha Mar residences in Nassau, Bahamas, or short journeys to the Florida Keys for crystal-clear waters, perfect for family snorkeling and deep-sea fishing. Jennifer’s family shares time between Fort Lauderdale, Chicago, and North Carolina, and FLL life shows itself more effortlessly and ameliorates many living standards for so many Northerners who have become permanent transplants. FLL is in between Miami and Palm Beach County, which makes it an even better choice with an international airport.
Best Places to Eat
With Fort Lauderdale being known as the Venice of America, The OG’s take advantage of the amazing waterfront lifestyle as well as the super quaint flair with mom and pop owners of the cutest cafes along so many waterways and on the famous Las Olas Boulevard. So many know of their super hot spots like Takato for stellar, sexy oceanfront Japanese food, Louie Bossi, Caffe Europa, Noodles Panini for consistently great Italian and Italian hot spots for a night out are Anthony’s Runway 84, Cafe Martorano’s and her personal favorite, La Dolce Vita. Dune by Laurent Tourondel in The Auberge Residences always equates to a beautiful day with her family with Sunday brunch on the beach, and the newest addition is Maass in the Four Seasons, where they go for the banana "Trifle." She was not sure if she should share this one, but a hidden gem, a sort of hole-in-the-wall Japanese Market for unbeatably priced nigiri and sushi rolls without compromising the quality named Sasaya Market, is a go-to for her team. Lastly noted was Even Keel, which just opened on Las Olas, as a little gem on the canal. The seafood, champagne and oysters are spectacular, say hello to Mario a restauranteur legend and the owner at Even Keel and a local coffee shop named Stork’s for amazing desserts too.
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
When it comes to wellness, health is truly wealth for The OG's, who indulge in fitness activities like yoga, pilates, spinning, pickle ball, and golf. After a workout, they refuel at Myapapaya and Pura Vida, their go-to spots for refreshing green juices and fresh, organic food to kickstart their day.
Best Places to Stay
The Pillars is a members-only club that The OG’s have been members of for years. It is such a wonderfully led boutique hotel, where they host many meetings with the developers Jennifer consults for from all over the world. It really showcases their city in such an alluring, aesthetic manner. Fort Lauderdale is stepping up and finally on the map the way the city deserves with The Four Seasons, The Ritz Carlton, Conrad Fort Lauderdale, and Cambria Hotel, a new boutique option across from the beach owned and operated by an amazing female hotelier. There is also The Pelican Grand and so many other little boutique hotels along the beach that you cannot go wrong with. Additionally, short-term rental properties have become a dominant force, showcasing the city's high appreciation levels and commanding elevated average daily rates that extend beyond the typical "seasonal" period.
For more information on Fort Lauderdale and any opportunity to own real estate or work with a new construction expert specialist, please contact Jennifer Leong, Sotheby’s Director of Intl. Developments, consultant for developers or Nicole Di Leo; lead associate and waterfront listing specialist with record-breaking sales at TheOG@onesothebysrealty.com.
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Jennifer Leong and Nicole Di Leo are some of the exclusive agents representing the Fort Lauderdale, FL, real estate market as members of the Haute Residence Real Estate Network. View all of their listings here.
