Miami condo king Jorge Pérez battles to survive real estate slump [South Florida]

Miami condo king Jorge Pérez battles to survive real estate slump [South Florida] Rising from city bureaucrat to billionaire builder, Jorge Pérez became the great American success story, Miami style. The Cuban immigrant made the South Florida skyline his canvas, erecting high-rises from Miami to West Palm Beach. But not one of them can compare …

Creditors want deposits back from Orlando vacation-home developer [South Florida]

Creditors want deposits back from Orlando vacation-home developer [South Florida] A group of would-be resort-home owners is attempting to force an Orlando developer into U.S. Bankruptcy Court, saying the company took about $34 million in deposits for never-built houses in Polk County. The 19 creditors, many British, filed an involuntary-bankruptcy petition Feb. 20 that seeks …

Real Estate Fraud Growing in Polk and Across Florida

Real Estate Fraud Growing in Polk and Across Florida A gate and a guard house protect the houses in the Sunset Ridge neighborhood, including a three-bedroom, two-bathroom vacation home on Sunset View Drive. While those security measures might prevent criminals from making physical intrusions into the home owned by a British couple, there are no …

In Maricopa, Ariz., a Paradise Found and Lost

In Maricopa, Ariz., a Paradise Found and Lost Builders rushed into this one-time agricultural crossroads during the housing boom. They put up beige stucco houses on winding streets, with names like Heavenly Place and Good Vibrations Lane. They lured young people who couldn’t afford homes in nearby Phoenix or its costly suburbs. The population soared …

Foreclosures spark HOA fee hikes

Foreclosures spark HOA fee hikes The wave of foreclosures in Florida continues to batter condo and homeowner associations, which have been forced to cut expenses and raise fees. That’s according to a survey of 1,589 property owners released Monday by Hollywood law firm Becker & Poliakoff. Becker & Poliakoff attorney Ken Direktor points to the …

Opportunities abound for tenants, investors [Tampa Bay Area]

Opportunities abound for tenants, investors [Tampa Bay Area] The dynamics of Southwest Florida’s office market are delivering healthy doses of caution and opportunity alike. An abundance of new construction in recent years has supplied the region with a surplus of available space, which has affected absorption and vacancy rates already slowed by economic conditions. While …