Miami skyline could reach new heights

Undeterred by the real-estate downturn, and aided by a little-noticed relaxation of the downtown height limits that protect Miami International Airport's flight paths, two local developers want to take you higher -- up over the 1,000-foot threshold, rare heights in the United States outside of New York and Chicago.

On Thursday, the Miami City Commission will consider Maclee Development's proposed Empire World Towers, a pair of rounded residential cloud-busters that would rise 93 stories over Biscayne Boulevard across from Bayside Marketplace. The city's planning board has recommended approval.

Miami bank-owned properties up

Lenders have taken ownership of 217 percent more properties from borrowers in the greater Miami area in the first 45 days of 2008 than they did in the same period in 2007, a report from Condo Vultures said.

In January 2008, lenders took back 641 greater Miami properties, up 252 percent from January 2007, when 182 properties were taken back. In the first 15 days of February, lenders have taken back 217, up 138 percent from the 91 properties taken in February 2007, according to data gathered by the Bal Harbour-based real estate consultancy.

Florida Real Estate Recovery Likely Will Be Slower

Orlando, Fla.--Although U.S. real estate might bottom out this year, the Florida housing market will most likely take longer to rebound, according to economists who spoke Wednesday at the International Builders' Show in Orlando, Fla.

Although some states--such as North Carolina--are doing much better than the rest of the country's real estate markets, Florida is currently undergoing a sharp price correction from the high home prices and sales it experienced during the housing boom, the Palm Beach Post reports.

Symposium on Distressed Real Estate Investing in Miami

Information Management Network ("IMN") is pleased to announce a timely industry Symposium on Distressed Real Estate Investing (http://www.imn.org/eej1080/pr), focusing on Residential Asset Classes for the institutional investor. This event will take place on March 18-19, 2008 at The Trump International Sonesta Beach Resort, Sunny Isles Beach, Miami, FL.

Miami-Dade for Virtual Housing Center

U.S. Conference of Mayors have named Miami-Dade County an Ambassador City for its Housing Central Web portal. The virtual one-stop housing center connects residents with affordable homes and rental units and provides valuable information and resources for area families.The county developed Housing Central to help residents find homes and rental properties that best meet their needs.

A chat with South Florida real-estate casualty

Richards has spent most of her adult life working in the real estate business. In 14 years she had gone from receptionist to processor, and finally, a senior mortgage loan underwriter/analyst.

She had hopes that perhaps she'd survive the unraveling of the housing market.