Executive Suite Today’s Entrepreneur: Miami magnate gives city a makeover – USATODAY.com

Executive Suite Today’s Entrepreneur: Miami magnate gives city a makeover If you stand in just the right spot on the Brickell Avenue Bridge, it’s possible to think that every new building in this rapidly evolving city — every single glass-walled pillar of aspiration and ambition — belongs to one man: Jorge Perez. Of course, that’s …

Condo resales turn buyer’s market

Condo resales turn buyer’s market Roughly one-third of investors who committed to downtown condo towers during Florida’s post-2000 real estate boom appear to be having buyers’ remorse. Driven by a desire to distance themselves from rampant speculation or avoid owning overpriced space, buyers are bailing from a handful of high-profile Sarasota towers. Their movement is …

Nicaragua, the new beachfront frontier

Nicaragua, the new beachfront frontier – Los Angeles Times What second-home buyers yearn for in Central America is Costa Rica before the building boom. They want ocean views and unspoiled land, without the steep prices, crime and American fast-food chains. They want Panama before Donald Trump. Adventurous Americans, Canadians and Europeans willing to dodge livestock …

Homeowners, lawmakers gain from GOP tax reform. Is it fair? [Florida]

Homeowners, lawmakers gain from GOP tax reform. Is it fair? [Florida] The Republican House leadership says its proposal to eliminate taxes on homesteaded properties while increasing the sales tax from 6 percent to 8.5 percent is a bold attempt to address inequities dogging the current system. Critics say the proposal would hurt the poor, renters …

Real estate fund’s manager fleeing REITs tied to apartments

Real estate fund’s manager fleeing REITs tied to apartments Kenneth Heebner, the manager of the top-performing real estate mutual fund over the last 10 years, said the economic damage from high-risk mortgage defaults is going to get worse. “We have a trillion dollars of subprime mortgages, and we’re going to have huge defaults,” Heebner, 66, …

Ballooning foreclosures tax court clerks, judges [South Florida]

Ballooning foreclosures tax court clerks, judges [South Florida] For months, a ceaseless routine has gripped the St. Lucie clerk of court’s civil office: New mortgage foreclosure lawsuits arrive in unprecedented numbers – huge stacks, some a foot or 2 tall. But as soon as one stack is processed and emptied from the in-box, another dozen …