All's Well That Ends Well

Yesterday it was reported that US Home Sales rose 3.4% over comparable sales for the past year in October. This is seen by many as a sign that the worst of the housing slump may be over. Of course you still have the doomsayers predicting further sales and price declines but the numbers definitely bode well for a return to normalcy in 2007.

The end of 2006 is not going to be mourned by many (if any) in the real estate industry as it has been a year of tumultuous markets and constant decline. Moreover, because of the hangover from the boom of the last several years sellers have been unwilling to reduce their prices, creating a stalemate between buyers who want to get a good deal and sellers who want to get what they think their property is worth. This should change in 2007 as the glut of homes on the market forces sellers to reduce prices or get out of the market. All in all 2006 was painful, but sometimes that is what is necessary to get back on track...at least lets hope! Happy New Year!!!

Introducing AllPreconstruction.com

As 2007 begins, Blue Coast Preconstruction will finalize a transition in its name to All Preconstruction. This change reflects our committment to finding information on all of the preconstruction projects that are currently available. This is information going to feed our new Version 1.0 All Preconstruction Database that will allow our members to search and sort more projects than ever before. There are so many developments to choose from that it is important we get as much information as possible on as many new developments as possible so that our customers and their clients can make the most informed and effective decision.

In addition to changing the main domain to AllPreconstruction.com, the change will also help to organize the All Network of sites because each city will follow the same naming convention, for example, Miami Preconstruction was MiamiFloridaPreconstruction.com but it is now AllMiamiPreconstruction.com, Las Vegas Preconstruction was LasVegas-Preconstruction.com but it is now AllLasVegasPreconstruction.com, and so on and so forth...

Also our supplementary sites have been updated as well. Our new Blogger page is now at http://allpreconstruction.blogspot.com/ instead of http://bluecoastpreconstruction.blogspot.com/. Also our MySpace page is now at mypsace.com/allpreconstruction instead of the old myspace.com/bluecoastpreconstruction.

We hope that you like the new name and continue to be patient as we finalize the Version 1.0 All Preconstruction Database. All of the best preconstruction projects will be available here soon!!!

Florida Will Be World's #1 Tourist Spot

Originally Posted on Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Tourism is expected to grow at record levels and push Florida to the top tourist destination in the world by 2025. This comes from a report by the committe that was charged with drafting the state's long-term aviation plan. The report concludes that within 20 years the number of people visiting Florida will double to 80 Million, moreover, 2/3 of those visitors will arrive by air. This is going to create a burden on the state's airports and if something is not done to increase capacity this incredible growth could be stunted. But thats the bad news. The good news is obvious: More residents and thus increased property values!

Florida has long been a place where people come to visit and then say, you know I could really see myself living here. With more tourists come greater numbers of new residents. Ofcourse this comes as no surprise to me or any other Floridian for that matter. We didn't decide to live here becuase we have to, because it's the only place where we can do business...we decided to live here becuase there is no better place to do business than in paradise. And there are very few businesses in paradise that do as well as real estate...maybe bars? So this story brought a big smile to my face as it should to anyone who has or is going to have property in Florida.

So lets get on top of expanding these airports becuase the Florida Sunshine isn't going away and people are sick of freezing their butts off!!!

200 Acres in Punta Gorda, Florida will see Mixed-Use Project

Originally Posted on Monday, December 11, 2006

GlobeSt.com reports that the Wilder Cos. has acquire 200 acres in Punta Gorda, Florida where it plans to build a project called the Loop. The Loop will consist of 1.2 Million sf. of retail, 500 residential units and 100,000 sf. of office space as well as a 200 room hotel. The Loop is an expansion of the same New Urbanism concept that the company has had in other areas of the country. If you visit the main website www.attheloop.com you will see links to each of the projects that have carried the Loop name. The first one, in Methuen, Massachusetts north of Boston, is already fully operational and seems to be doing very well. You can visit the website by clicking here.

There is another Loop in Orlando that has been successful as well, and the Wilder Cos. hope that this success will continue in Southwest Florida. This is the big gamble though as many feel that the demographics must shift within the next few years to provide the kind of growth that will fill a development of this size. The Punta Gorda market is underserved contend the Wilder Cos. brass, particularly in terms of upscale shopping options. They say most people living here are going to Fort Myers or Sarasota to shop and this in turn is helping a migration out of the city that this new development could reverse.

Below is a picture of the general location of the project on Jones Loop Road...

Preconstruction Blog Now Available On Website

Originally Posted on Monday, December 11, 2006

Yesterday marked an important day for the Preconstruction Blog. After months of only being available on the Blogger.com site the Preconstruction Blog is now also available on the main BlueCoastPreconstruction.com website.

You can get there by visiting the main site or by typing BlueCoastPreconstruction.com/preconstruction_blog.htm.

This is an important transition for the Preconstruction Blog and was made as a result of the incredible response that the Preconstruction Blog has received. In addition to being made available on the main site, the Preconstruction Blog will now receive daily updates as opposed to weekly. We hope that you continue to enjoy the blog wherever you decide to view it!

3 Condos Propsed for Mercy Hospital Site in Coconut Grove

Originally Posted on Wednesday, December 06, 2006

The Miami Herald reports that Boca Raton based Ocean Land Investments is partnering with Jorge Perez's Related Group to propose a 3 tower 300 unit Ultra-Luxury condo development in land behind Mercy Hospital in Coconut Grove. The land is owned by Mercy Hospital but the hospital wants to sell 6.7 acres of its prime bayfront land to the group for $98 Million. The hospital says that it will use the proceeds from the sale to fund much needed internal improvements to the hospital.

The project, which was originally going to have 1000 units, has faced public opposition from residents who fear an increase in traffic in an already congested part of Miami. The reduction to 300 units and decision to brand the project as an ultra-luxury project was due in part to appease these concerns. Related contends that the affluent residents of such a project would not be contributing to the rush hour problems becuase most of them do not need to be at work during the normal 9 am to 5 pm work day. The ultimate decision as to whether or not the project will proceed will be up to the Miami City Commission.

Click Image to See Larger View:

28 Unit South of 5th Receives Financing

Originally Posted on Monday, November 27, 2006

A Miami developer has secured $90 Million in financing to cover the entire costs of construction for South of 5th, a new 28 unit condo to be located at 125 Ocean Drive. The project is expected to be complete in about 18 months. Demolition on the site has already begun and the prices for the units will range from $1.5 Million to $10 Million. The projects is unique becuase it is one of the last remaining beach sites in South Beach, and is also located in the prized So-Fi or South-of-Fifth area from which the project takes its name.