Developer selling life

At first glance, the $12.4 million sale of 30-year-old apartments in Tampa's Carrollwood might not be the most attention-grabbing.

But then again, the man putting up the money isn't always looking to be a buyer. In fact, last summer, he offered to be a seller: his life, for $100 million.

Carrollwood Palms Apartments LLC purchased the aptly named Carrollwood Palms Apartments at 4302 Gunn Highway last week for a little more than $60,000 per unit. Leading that company, according to records, is Benjamin Mallah, a Tampa-area developer who claims a portfolio worth more than $170 million.

Yet, Mallah is willing to give all that up for something just above nine digits. And he's willing to throw in two Rolls Royce Phantoms and a Bentley worth $750,000.

Why would he do this? Because Mallah's 25 years of success has made him fat and healthy, he says on his website. Since doctors say he probably won't live to see another five years, Mallah -- the CEO of Equity Management Partners -- says he'd rather spend time with his family than work.

Mallah, who also made an unsuccessful bid for the embattled Channelside Bay Plaza last year, created a YouTube video highlighting his desire to sell his life. In that video, Mallah highlights his real estate strategy — buy older multifamily properties, fix them up, attract renters, then flip it all to another buyer at a much higher cost.

It's not clear what Mallah's plans are for Carrollwood Palms, but who knows? Maybe someone willing to pony up $100 million can have a say in the future of this apartment complex, and the rest of Mallah's real estate holdings.