Condo construction halted; lender files for bankruptcy [South Florida]

Condo construction halted; lender files for bankruptcy

When a Las Vegas lender plunked down money from retirees, investors and even a medical research firm’s pension fund to finance construction of a West Palm Beach high-rise condo, everyone gambled that red-hot Florida real estate was a sure thing.

Low-income residents of the apartment complex moved, heavy construction equipment rolled in, millions of dollars were borrowed and dozens of investors saw double-digit returns on investments.

Now, all bets are off.