Miami Luxury Real Estate Experts on the Global Buyer

November 5, 2026 Admin

Miami has long been a varsity player on the global real estate field, and South Florida real estate experts say that reputation is here to stay.

The city’s luxury market is drawing a more varied and selective pool of buyers, with domestic interest now competing with continued international demand, panelists said Wednesday at The Real Deal Miami Forum at the Mana Wynwood Convention Center.

Buyers are weighing location, price, brands and amenities alongside concerns such as insurance costs and environmental risks. Still, the panelists said Miami’s global appeal is more than just a fad.

Swire Properties' Dave Martin and Dezer Development's Gil Dezer — Swire Properties’ Dave Martin and Dezer Development’s Gil Dezer (Photos by Alive Coverage)

“Is this a Miami moment, or is it a Miami movement? We’re past that. It’s a transformation,” said Swire Properties President Dave Martin, who spoke at “The Global Buyer” panel, moderated by TRD’s Deputy Managing Editor Ellen Cranley.

The firm is developing The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Miami, a branded residential project on Brickell Key. Martin said he’s seeing “unexpected” demand from Europe, while domestic buyers from places like New York, California and Massachusetts have “flipped the script,” making up 65 percent of a buyer pool once dominated by South and Central America.

Gil Dezer, president of Dezer Development, said that while he expects increased demand from countries like Brazil, Mexico and Colombia due to political turnover, Miami’s backyard has proven to be just as fruitful.

“We don’t need to look outside the country in order to find buyers,” he said.

Dezer Development's Gil Dezer — Dezer Development’s Gil Dezer (Photos by Alive Coverage)

With so much product on the market, both international and domestic buyers are more discerning, Dezer said. As the market becomes saturated with branded condos, buyers are looking for distinctive products, and developers have had to innovate, he said. Dezer is developing the Bentley Residences, which includes the Dezervator, a patented car elevator system that lifts vehicles to private glass-enclosed sky garages next to apartments.

Though Dezer is a champion of the domestic buyer, he draws inspiration for his projects from around the world. Amenities from places like the Maldives and St. Barts have wound up in his buildings, TRD previously reported.

Mayi de la Vega, founder of ONE Sotheby’s International Realty, said Latin American buyers have continued to show interest in Miami, citing Mexico, Colombia, Argentina and Chile. ONE Sotheby’s has also seen more buyers from London, something the firm hadn’t had in the past, she said.

De la Vega said buyers in global markets are cautious, weighing price, location, developer reputation and other factors before pulling the trigger.

“Global buyers are always looking for certainty,” she said. “They want to make sure they’re making the right investment.”

ONE Sotheby’s International Realty's Mayi de la Vega — ONE Sotheby’s International Realty’s Mayi de la Vega (Photos by Alive Coverage)

Despite rising insurance rates, construction costs, environmental hazards and a shifting political climate, de la Vega remains “bullish” on Florida and predicts “the best is yet to come” as Miami continues “to shine on the global stage.”

She has a message for international buyers who haven’t yet entered Miami’s market: “Where have you been all this time? You’re missing the best we have to offer.”

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