Million-dollar real estate cruise in Fort Lauderdale

It’s full steam ahead past posh lifestyles on south Florida’s Intracoastal Waterway.

“We talk about the homes of the rich and famous on the river,” said Capt. Jack at the helm of the Carrie B.

Folks climb aboard the stern wheel paddlewheel boat in Fort Lauderdale for peek at the famed “Millionaires Row” from the boat’s deck.  Some stand, while others sit as the boat floats past expensive real estate.

“Times are good for Mr. Stern. He bought a $14 million house on this corner, not to live in but to tear down. And replace it with the $21 million home you see here,” explains tour guide Kelsey Monroe.  “He’s one of the nation’s leading foreclosure attorneys.”

According to Monroe, other neighbors include the former owner of the Miami Dolphins and a current executive of Auto Nation, the family associated with Captain Morgan Rum and the automotive executive who championed air-conditioning in cars and his wife.

“He’s about 90 years old now,” Monroe said. “He’s been blind for the past 20 years and she is a local 22-year-old bartender. And she can see just fine.”

Some of the homes here are owned by investment bankers, entrepreneurs and business men, and some folks who, well, don’t want us to know who they are.

“They don’t want us mentioning his name, so we don’t mention his name,” Kelsey said with a grin about one home belonging to a retail-chain executive.

In the past, Sonny and Cher, Lucille Ball and Merv Griffin lived in these homes, some of which are now under renovation.

“Today, fixer-uppers on inland streets sell for $400,000 to $800,000,” Kelsey shared with passengers.  “Waterfront mansions on the river see for between $5 million to $10 million.”

The tour then moved from palatial homes to yachts just as big, and even more expensive.

“We turn and head back north up the Intracoastal to Bahia Mar Yachting Center,” Jack said.  “We get to see a lot of very large yachts.”

Pointing to one yacht, Kelsey said, “She has six wave runners and a 35-foot powerboat on board. Total price paid for this yacht — $150 billion.”