Heat's Chris Bosh scores a deal for Miami Beach home

Chris Bosh has bought a 12,000-square-foot home in Miami Beach for $12.5 million -- $3.5 million less than the listing price.

Miami Heat big man Chris Bosh has purchased a 12,000-square-foot home on North Bay Road in Miami Beach, the real estate firm listing the property said Friday, shortly after the sale closed.

The 7-bedroom, 8-bath mansion just south of La Gorce Island sold for $12.5 million, said listing agent Lourdes Alatriste, of real estate firm Engel & Voelkers.

Built in 2009, the home features 20-foot ceilings, a gourmet kitchen, gym, elevator and an infinity pool with unobstructed views of Biscayne Bay.

``When he saw the house, he was overwhelmed,'' Alatriste said. ``It's perfect for him. He's seen a lot of houses, but he wanted a brand new house.''

Alatriste said she nabbed the high-profile sale by tracking the NBA free agent drama this summer, and watching the movements of the Miami Heat's new stars in the weeks following LeBron James' decision to join the team.

In late July, Bosh and his girlfriend traveled to the Hamptons, staying at the home of Alan and Diane Lieberman, who own seven hotels on South Beach. Diane Lieberman, who also owns SBI Realty, started discussing housing options with Bosh during the trip and Alatriste called to offer up the North Bay Road home she was listing.

In the next few weeks, Bosh and Lieberman visited a lot of homes, not settling on any, and Alatriste continued to put in calls to Lieberman pitching the North Bay Road home as Bosh's next pad. Eventually, Lieberman took a visit, and Bosh later viewed the home and put an offer in, Alatriste said.

Lieberman declined to comment on the sale, as did Bosh's representative.

The home is also the reportedly the site where Bosh proposed to his fiancée, Adrienne Williams, on Aug. 27, soon after going into contract.

The owner of the home, Glenna Norton, developed the property, completing the all-white, glass-enveloped structure in March 2009. ``It's a beautiful contemporary home -- it's perfectly proportioned, and it has all the amenities,'' Norton said. ``It has beautiful finishes, and it's a transparent house, with all glass and with fantastic walls for art.''

The North Bay Road neighborhood has housed a number of celebrities, including Jennifer Lopez, members of the Bee Gees and Matt Damon, who lives a few doors away from Bosh's new home. The mansion owned by insurance executive Mel Harris, also a few blocks away, is rumored to be the top choice of Heat guard Dwyane Wade, who has been house hunting this summer after selling his Pinecrest home earlier this year.

Bosh's home was originally listed for more than $16 million.

Norton said she had offers to buy and rent the home back in 2009, but wanted to wait out the market, since new homes in Miami Beach are scarce.

``The market at that time when I finished (construction) wasn't good, but I was patient and I knew the right person would come along,'' she said. ``And he did.''

By TOLUSE OLORUNNIPA

tolorunnipa@MiamiHerald.com

Ikem Chukumerije represents Buyers and Sellers in all luxury real estate communities including Beverly Hills, Marina Del Rey, Malibu, Los Angeles, Bel Air, Santa Monica, Westwood, Brentwood, Venice, hollywood Hills, West Hollywood, Pacific Palisades, and Manhattan Beach. Contact Ikem at 323-350-8297 about buying or selling real estate in these areas.

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