Florida Trend | Florida's Business Authority

Cruising Along

FRED ABBO, 62
President, chairman / The Abbo Group of Companies
Fort Lauderdale

Born: Venezuela.

Business: Runs a large private real estate development business, including Prime Homebuilders and Prime Commercial Developers, with sons Larry Abbo and Edward Abbo. "This is in our blood. We're builders."

Employees: 140.

Geography: Projects stretch from Homestead to Vero Beach to Orlando, among other Florida spots. Next up: Texas.

Pipeline: "We have more than 5,000 units in the mill." Includes single-family homes, townhomes and condo garden homes.

Housing outlook: "This housing boom lasted too long. It's had the effect of inflating prices too much because of the speculation. It's coming back to some normalcy without a crash. We're going to have a soft landing."

Passion: Loves playing romantic piano music. Cut his own CD.

Relaxation: Cruising with family aboard his 118-foot Intermarine yacht.

Wheels: Drives a Maybach.

Wings: 11-passenger King Air 350 turboprop. "It's a very important tool."