Sink or swim [Southern California]

Sink or swim [Southern California] Merchants at the eclectic Seaport Village shopping complex are seeing something they’ve rarely seen amid the T-shirt shops and jewelry stores: empty storefronts and liquidation signs. There’s the shop near the waterfront that once housed The Cabbage Tree. Its owners recently took the “midnight run” – emptying the gift store …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Once high-flying South Florida developer’s properties now unfinished, derelict

Once high-flying South Florida developer’s properties now unfinished, derelict Glenn Wright’s fortunes soared with the city’s hunger for luxury real estate. His two-story Georgian homes rose up in older neighborhoods, much to the chagrin of residents who derided them as “McMansions.” But the developer who once was one of the biggest names in high-end Fort …

Local company finds stability dodging bubbles

Local company finds stability dodging bubbles In a state notorious for asset bubbles, quick money and grand dreams, Bill and Joan Clark are decidedly out of place. Masters of discipline, they built a real estate empire over decades, focusing on safety and income —- and using almost no debt. Bill Clark will retire next week …