The Keyes Company is continuing its acquisition spending spree. The brokerage just closed on the purchase of Realty Elite The Palm Beaches in Wellington, following a string of deals over the past two years. Realty Elite, founded by David Lopez in 2007, closed on $92 million in sales volume in 2016, according to a press release. It adds 64 agents to Keyes. In recent months, Keyes has closed on the acquisition of Jupiter-based Bluffs Real Estate and Investment Properties, and two South... [read more]

Bitcoin investor and enthusiast Michael Komaransky just paid $7.55 million for a waterfront spec mansion in Coconut Grove, marking the most expensive home sale to close in Miami-Dade County post Hurricane Irma. Property records show the internet currency advocate bought the 9,800-square-foot, five-bedroom house at 3604 Matheson Avenue. The seller is 3604 Matheson Holdings LLC, led by Mariannie Cordovez and Rene Brillembourg. Silvia Boschetti of BH Realty was the listing agent. The... [read more]

Tourists are flocking to Airbnb units, and the gleaming condos along the water are among the most desirable. South Florida is a mecca for all kinds of tourists, but local governments extend little hospitality to Airbnb, HomeAway and other online home-sharing companies active in the Miami and Fort Lauderdale area. Consider, for example, the low tolerance for home-based competition with hotels in Miami Beach, where ordinances allow short-term rentals only in limited areas and residents... [read more]

2018 CCIM Commercial Real Estate Outlook Conference (Credit: Katherine Kallergis) Population growth, new jobs, and a tight residential market are fueling Florida’s commercial sectors, and that isn’t expected to change anytime soon. That’s how economist Sean Snaith summarized the current market as he kicked off the 2018 CCIM Commercial Outlook conference. One other major factor has contributed to the rising fortunes, he told the crowd at the Coral Gables Country... [read more]

(TNS)—More Americans are taking out zero-down loans to buy a home, but not at the rate or with the risk that helped bring on the U.S. recession a decade ago. Experts say zero-down programs, through which people can purchase a house without a down payment, have become more popular since the 2008 housing crisis, creating an easier path to homeownership but posing risks if the market takes an unexpected downturn. “We didn’t have to put $30,000 down on a house, but you still... [read more]