A tight lending market, slowing economy and smaller retailers scaling back are a few of the reason for the rise in retail vacancy rates and some softness in the price-per-square feet in South Florida.  A detailed article in the Miami Herald's August 11th edition highlights many of the concerns but also discusses some of the strengths.  For example, larger retailers and premium space is still sought after in many areas.

For the whole article and it's details and statistics click HERE.

Here is a great opportunity to learn from expert Robert C Percival in this full day leasing class sponsored by RCA & SIOR.

The latest report by the National Association of REALTORS confirms that the current tightened credit markets have had an impact on the commercial real estate industry.

Investment in commercial real estate during the first four months of 2008 was $48.2 billion, down 69.5 percent from $157.8 billion during the same period in 2007 when the financial and credit markets were running smoother.

Vacancy rates in the office markets, for example, are expected to rise nationally to 13.7 percent in the fourth quarter of this year from 12.5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2007.  While overall vacancy rates in the industrial sector are projected to rise to 9.9 percent in the fourth quarter of this year an increase from 9.4 percent in the same period of 2007

NAR has an excellent chart on License Portability on their website.  It tells you where licensees can practice and under what conditions when consummating a commercial real estate transaction in a particular state.

They categorize states as "Cooperating", "Physical Location States" and "Turf States" depending on the state's flexibility with practitioners from another state.

I had a great time today at the Miami Herald building in Pembroke Pines with Coldwell Banker's Jay Chernoff and Duff Rubin.  I know I learned a great deal from them and enjoyed asking them questions.  As promised I have included my presentation with links to local commercial organizations as well as websites for commercial properties listing services.

Our Senior VP of Member Relations Maureen Levine always does an excellent job with these FREE events.

The following attachment is the instruction Manual for the Member-to-Member Email System one of RCA RAMB's top Member Benefits

Lori Fields of KPMG and Latitude One developer Ed Fish spoke to REALTOR Association of Greater Miami & the Beach Members about the Enterprise Zone that Latitude One is in as well as other incentives for business located in the area.

Attached you will find the handout from the presentation.

Miami-Dade County is holding a meeting at Jungle Island on May 19^th to discuss the billions of dollars slated for capital improvement projects going forward.  Expected attendees include engineers, builders, architects and individuals involved in real estate and construction.  Johnny Martinez, the Director of the County's Office of Capital Improvements, expects topics to include: 

The weak US Dollar and the currency advantage that many overseas are enjoying have been talked about in the media particularly in regards to manufacturing and real estate.  But a much overlooked phenomenon is not being addressed as often.

Although the Brickell Financial Centre doesn't expect to be completed until 2010 it landed a whopper of a lessee in law firm Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod.  The law firm is expected to occupy 115,000 square feet of the 1.5-million-square-foot mixed-use development at 680 Brickell Ave.  The building has shown a commitment to sustainable green design and will attract like-minded clients. To learn more about the deal and the project click HERE to read the Miami Today article.