Oct 31, 2023
13th Floor Homes has initiated the construction of Marina Landings, a luxury gated community in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, featuring 34 single-family homes. The project addresses the challenge of scarce available land in South Florida by repurposing infill sites. The development, located near the airport and downtown, offers homes starting in the low 1-millions, with various floor plans, and is expected to be completed in 2024. The demand for single-family homes in the region has led the company to expand its presence into various Florida submarkets.
Oct 28, 2023
Invitation Homes, the largest owner of single-family rentals in the US with around 85,000 properties, is facing challenges in finding properties to purchase. Despite a strong demand for rental homes, the company struggles to acquire suitable properties, often getting outbid when they do find something that fits their criteria. They are turning to homebuilders to strengthen their portfolio and have formed partnerships with them to build new homes. Invitation Homes reported revenues of $618 million in the third quarter, with a robust leasing market and rents returning to historical norms. They are also selling older, non-core properties to fund new acquisitions, with a construction pipeline of 1,931 homes in partnership with third-party builders. The company is well-positioned with ample liquidity for potential merger and acquisition deals in the future.
Oct 20, 2023
Rite Aid, a pharmacy chain, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection due to significant debt and opioid-related litigation. The company received a commitment of $3.45 billion from creditors and lenders to support its operations and financial restructuring. The bankruptcy is expected to result in the closure of hundreds of Rite Aid stores. The filing will address the opioid-related lawsuits and help the company optimize its store footprint, with plans to close underperforming stores. Jeffrey Stein has been appointed as the new CEO and chief restructuring officer. Rite Aid has been struggling financially, with ongoing losses and a substantial debt burden.
Oct 19, 2023
In 2023, the real estate markets in Sarasota and Fort Myers have shown resilience with minimal drops in sales volume. The region achieved approximately $735 million in total sales volume in the third quarter, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Sarasota accounted for the majority of investment volume at $1.3 billion year-to-date. The multifamily sector performed well but didn’t reach the peak recorded in the second quarter of 2022. Office transactions declined, and industrial investments have remained consistent, with a strong third quarter. The retail sector fluctuated, with the third quarter being the weakest in five years. Private buyers and owner-users continue to dominate the market, contributing to a steady flow of deals, especially in the industrial and multifamily sectors.
Oct 13, 2023
Marriott International and Hilton are capitalizing on the growing demand for hotel-like homes by expanding into the unique segment of hotel-branded residential developments without the hotel component. Traditional sales of condo-style branded residences that are part of luxury hotel developments have driven project funding and appealed to investors in vacation homes and international real estate. Stand-alone branded residences, without the hotel, are becoming popular among luxury travelers who seek the benefits of a luxury hotel brand without the risks of hotel development. Marriott, with 128 branded residential developments globally, has 17% that are stand-alone, and Hilton is about to launch its first stand-alone private residence project. Stand-alone branded residences offer private homeowners luxury amenities like concierge services and security. However, these stand-alone residences are intended for sale, not for hotel rental use, as hotels still cater to their loyal customer bases co-located with hotels.
