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The hunt for dirty money in Florida real estate will keep going, feds say

The hunt for dirty money in Florida real estate will keep going, feds say

The federal government says its hunt for dirty money in luxury real estate in South Florida and other high-priced housing markets is working – and the temporary initiative is being extended yet again. Development in Florida has boomed since the housing crash thanks to a flood of money from foreign investors. More from the Miami Herald and Tribune Content Agency.

'Greenwashing' in the Southwest Florida real estate market

If you're looking for a green, energy-efficient home, you need to be on guard. That's because some homes are being marketed as environmentally-friendly and energy-saving when they're not. The practice is called "greenwashing," and experts said it's a growing problem. [Source: NBC-2]

Is your land at risk for sea rise? More firms want to sell South Florida the answer

The usual checklist before businesses buy a piece of property includes looking at what kind of taxes they’ll have to pay, who the neighbors are and whether there is good space for parking. In South Florida, there’s a new box some buyers may want to check: What will that parcel look like when sea levels rise? More from the Miami Herald and the Real Deal.

Bridging the gender divide in commercial real estate

Barbara Liberatore Black’s rise to managing director of JLL’s South Florida office was not an easy one. Currently the only female executive in her office, Black was also one of the first women in commercial real estate in Miami. Women in the field find the deck is largely stacked against them, even as some top firms have been celebrated for their inclusionary policies. [Source: The Real Deal]

Panorama tower soars over Miami as Florida's tallest building

Miami’s new Panorama Tower developed by Florida East Coast Realty is shaping up to be the tallest structure in Florida and the tallest residential building south of New York. The building, which is 868 feet and 85 stories tall, houses 821 luxury rental apartments, a Hyatt Centric boutique hotel, retail tenants and office spaces. [Source: Forbes]

STAT OF THE WEEK
6,505
The square footage of the top real estate transaction for the week of Feb. 15-21 in Flagler County [Source: Palm Coast Observer]

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› Tenants say Tallahassee real estate scammer victimized them
Hunter Flora was in charge of collecting rent from Lauer property tenants around Tallahassee. According to a court document, when confronted by his boss, Flora admitted to embezzling money. He said he lost track of the amount he stole and wouldn't be surprised if it was $100,000.

› Lennar’s new waterfront community in Ruskin is now the ‘Southshore Yacht Club’
Buoyed by the success of its WCI luxury brand and the Westshore Yacht Club in Tampa, Lennar is rebranding its new waterfront community in Ruskin as "Southshore Yacht Club."

› Florida Lifestyle Homes unveils Sidney model at Babcock Ranch
Florida Lifestyle Homes has completed and opened its newest model, the Sydney, at Babcock Ranch, a new eco-centric town being developed in Charlotte County east of Fort Myers off State Road 31.

› Surreal estate: Sarasota partners hit unlikely jackpot
Longtime friends, too, Ross Bryans and John Petitti recently inked a deal to sell 100 rental units in three apartment complexes to two companies — one local and one from Houston — for $11.3 million. They had paid $4.3 million during the Great Recession.