Is The Economy at an Inflection Point?
The economy is at an inflection point. The rise in employment and more people entering the workplace is a show of confidence in the economy. The stock market should also continue to rise with consumer confidence. It will be interesting to see if the economy can sustain this current modest level of growth given the […]
Miami Marlins’ Ballpark Opens to Raves
On Saturday I went to the new Marlins ballpark. What a great experience! The fan fest was wonderful. It was great to be in the lower bowl of the new ballpark rather than being crammed into the old clubhouse at the football stadium. It was a beautiful day and the roof was open – […]
Housing Market Still Slumping
The housing pain continues across the country with home prices still depressed and with the looming wave of new foreclosures prices will remain depressed for a long time. I am a lifelong renter. It is great. No value lost, items fixed on time and easily at no extra cost. I use the money I save […]
Oil Prices and the Recovery
Consumer confidence is a fragile thing and yet that is what our economic recovery is based on. With consumer confidence at a post recession high – illustrated by the Dow’s flirtation with 13,000- we need to consider what impact the uncertainty in the world oil market will have on the economic recovery. The instability in […]
Dow Jones Hits 13,000 – SO?
Dow closed above 13,000 today. So what? Is the recovery over? Yes – in some places for now. Housing seems to be recovering and the market is just reflecting an improvement in consumer confidence. Consumers are more confident but it may be just everyone jawboning each other that things are better or is it really […]
A New Source For Real Estate Equity – Real Estate Merchant Banks
Bridging the Gap… Trends In Equity Financing Real estate development has always been a capital-intensive business. Developers have always attempted to use the capital they have accumulated to fund their overhead and initial project costs. They traditionally seek third party capital from “opportunity funds”, pension fund advisors, life insurance companies and individual investors to […]
Setting Property Values in Today’s Marketplace – Is there an Alternative to Appraisals?
According to Florida Statute 475.25(t) applied to FS475.611 a real Florida real estate broker or sales associate who in the ordinary course of business, performs a comparative market analysis, gives a brokers price opinion or gives an opinion of value of real estate is exempt for the requirement of being a licensed real estate appraiser […]
Institutional Equity: How To Take Your Firm to the Next Level
In the last cycle I assisted a Fort Lauderdale real estate investment firm, as it broke into the institutional market and took its acquisition capacity to a new level. This was accomplished because the firm’s principals had raised enough funds on their own to acquire an initial portfolio –and subsequently attracted an equity investment from […]
Urban Development – The Brickell Village Area Of Miami
Today in Florida growth is being redirected into our urban cores and the type of development in our urban cores is diversifying. Areas that were once “daytime only” are going “24/7”. The Brickell Village area of Miami is a perfect example. Luxury apartments, affordable housing, condominiums at all price points, entertainment venues and hotels are […]
