Record-setting spec home in Sunrise Intracoastal under contract
A newly completed waterfront estate in Fort Lauderdale’s Sunrise Intracoastal neighborhood is under contract for $51 million, according to media reports. The 15,000-square-foot spec home, known as Ember House and developed by Dov Stark of Prestige Homes Development, was listed this spring at $55 million and has drawn attention as one of the highest-priced residential listings in Broward County.
The sale, which is reported to close in January, would rank among the priciest residential transactions in the city if finalized. The buyer remains unidentified; the buyers’ agent is Joelle Oiknine of One Sotheby’s International Realty. The seller is Stark, who designed, developed and listed the property and lives two doors down from the home.
Features, costs and design
Stark purchased the .4-acre lot at 513 Middle River Drive in 2024 for $5.5 million, demolished the existing structure and spent roughly 15 months building the new residence. Construction expenses for the project reportedly totaled $35 million.
- Size: 15,000 square feet
- Bedrooms: 6
- Bathrooms: 11 full, 4 half
- Waterfrontage: 145 feet
- Outdoor space: 5,000 square feet
- Other features: rooftop pickleball court, eight-car garage, 85-foot mosaic pool
Stark emphasized the bespoke interior finishes. According to previous reporting, the property’s interior walls are finished in stone, leather, wood or fabric — an approach the developer framed as a departure from standard painted interiors.
"I didn't buy one gallon of paint," Stark told The Real Deal in June, underscoring the custom finishes used throughout the house.
Market context and local implications
The Ember House contract illustrates a growing appetite among affluent buyers for Fort Lauderdale waterfront homes. Industry observers have noted rising prices for prime waterfront estates as buyers seek properties that support a boating lifestyle and provide substantial outdoor amenities.
Recent notable local sales cited alongside the Ember House listing include a May sale of a Fort Lauderdale mansion by WeatherTech founder David MacNeil for $26 million. Local brokers have said buyers are increasingly treating Fort Lauderdale as an alternative to neighboring South Florida markets.
"When they got to Fort Lauderdale, they made us cancel all the other appointments," Joelle Oiknine told the Wall Street Journal, describing the buyers' preference for the city's offerings over some Miami Beach listings.
For homeowners, developers and municipal officials, such high-end transactions reinforce Fort Lauderdale’s position in the luxury waterfront market. They can influence neighboring property values, spur additional high-end development and shape demand for services tied to a waterfront lifestyle, including marinas, docks and coastal infrastructure upgrades.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Address | 513 Middle River Drive |
| List price (April) | $55 million |
| Contract price | $51 million |
| Lot purchase (2024) | $5.5 million |
| Construction cost | $35 million |
Local planners and neighborhood residents watching development in the Sunrise Intracoastal area may expect continued interest from builders targeting affluent buyers. Stark has lived in Fort Lauderdale for more than 25 years and previously developed multiple homes in the neighborhood, where roughly a third of properties sit on the water, according to reports.
As the Ember House transaction progresses toward closing early next year, it will be watched closely by market participants for what it signals about demand, pricing and design trends in Fort Lauderdale’s luxury housing segment.
