MW Former 'Real Housewives' star Bethenny Frankel picks up a $1.7 million winter home in Florida

By Charlie Lankston

Frankel now has her pick between Miami Beach, New York City and the Hamptons

Former "Real Housewives of New York" star Bethenny Frankel has (temporarily) turned her back on her home state in favor of chasing some sunshine in Miami Beach, Fla., where she is now the proud owner of a dazzling new beachfront home.

The 54-year-old reality star-turned-TikTok influencer-whose primary residence is located in the Hamptons-ramped up her real estate holdings in 2024 by adding two new properties to her portfolio, one in Manhattan and another in Miami.

And with New York still in the viselike grip of winter, Frankel decided to take full advantage of her newly redecorated Florida home, flying south to spend some time in the balmy beach weather-while also enjoying an evening on the town with influencer Alix Earle, one of Miami's most prominent online stars.

Frankel and Earle's friendship got off to something of a rocky start when the latter accidentally stood up the former Bravo star because of a scheduling mistake. However, the high-profile pair finally managed to be in the same place at the same time on Saturday night, an outing that sent TikTok users into a spin of excitement.

But while her clips from the girls' night out have been among her most popular since she arrived in Miami, Frankel has also treated her followers to several glimpses inside her stunning new home-which is understood to have been purchased by the mother of one for just under $1.68 million in June.

As with all of her homes, Frankel carried out several updates to the property before moving in, revealing in a December 2024 tour of the condo that she had redone the flooring, installed artwork, and overhauled the bathroom.

"This was a wretched bathroom that I had to repaint," she tells her followers while walking through the space. "Same with the bathtub. It was like an old bathtub that I had to repaint and do some trickery [on]."

The sink area "was also completely rebuilt, the whole bathroom area was completely redone," she went on, adding that she still wants to rip out the bidet to make room for a built-in closet.

Because the apartment is much smaller than her sprawling Hamptons mansion, Frankel noted that she needed to make full use of every inch of the home, which boasts two bedrooms-one for her and one for her daughter, Bryn.

To that end, the former Bravolebrity has filled the 1,280-square-foot abode with different storage units, while also adding shelves and hanging rails inside the existing closets to maximize the available storage space.

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In the kitchen, Frankel replaced the hardware on the cabinets and installed a new stovetop, revealing that the existing appliance was too "old and ratty" for her to use.

Speaking about her decision to head down to her Miami apartment, Frankel explained that she decided to "peace out" after her teenage daughter asked for some space so she could have time to study.

However, it seems the Miami lifestyle may have proven too hot to handle for the Skinny Girl founder, who revealed in a post shared in the wake of her dinner with Earle that she had been out until 2 a.m.

"Here's what happened. She shows up with flowers, no need, She's the best, she's sweet," Frankel said, referring to the enormous bouquet that Earle brought to their dinner as an apology for missing their first meetup.

"So we go to this restaurant, Joyce, it was great. ... We go to the bathroom together, and I smash a vase on the way in, but I blame it on her. Threw her under the bus."

After dinner, however, the night took a turn for the rowdy, with Frankel revealing that they headed to the Faena Hotel, where she had a "baller table," so they could enjoy a few more drinks.

"I stayed up until 2 in the morning and ... yeah," she concludes while sitting on the balcony of her Miami condo, which is located on the waterfront and boasts jaw-dropping views of the ocean.

While Frankel's apartment in the Sunshine State is certainly smaller than her Hamptons abode, the building in which it is located offers a wealth of amenities, not least its proximity to the beach and the ocean, as well as access to private cabanas and a swimming pool.

Each apartment in the 20-story building has private elevator access, enabling residents to enjoy maximum privacy. The property is located in the heart of the Faena District, which is filled with restaurants and bars.

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According to records, Frankel bought her apartment via a trust in June 2024, paying just a hair under $1.68 million-having secured a small discount on the original $1.7 million asking price.

It was a big year for the former TV star, who bought her new Miami home just a few months after investing in a new pied-à-terre on New York City's Upper West Side, paying around $2 million.

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But while Frankel has her pick between Miami Beach and New York City when she wants to enjoy the hustle and bustle of metropolitan life, her primary residence is located in a much quieter neighborhood-the tony enclave of Southampton on Long Island.

Frankel purchased a sprawling four-bedroom, four-bathroom mansion in the Hamptons in October 2023 for $5.45 million, having sold her previous Long Island property in nearby Bridgehampton, N.Y., in 2020.

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The 3,500-square-foot home has two upper and lower decks in the back. Both offer "stunning bay views," according to the original listing.

Frankel has proudly showcased her renovations of the home on TikTok, sharing her tips and tricks for achieving a chic look for less, while also revealing the aspects of any house transformation that she believes are worth extra expense.

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In a video posted in June 2024, Frankel confessed that she had "gutted" about "85%" of the property before moving in-a process that took several months.

"I like to spend money on construction and things that hold value-not furnishings. That's just my model. I don't go crazy on furnishings," she explained in the clip.

This story originally ran on Realtor.com.

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March 14, 2025 05:01 ET (09:01 GMT)

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