Hurricane Irma's Effect on The Miami Real Estate Industry
Despite the potential destruction that was anticipated by Hurricane Irma, Miami, along with most of the South Florida metropolitan real estate markets, were mostly spared from any significant or crippling damage. $38.94 billion of CMBS debt was exposed to potential damage in Florida, with $6.41 billion in Miami alone. Fort Lauderdale held an $4.32 billion exposed as reported by The Real Deal. Cranes were reported down at PMG's 300 Biscayne Avenue and Related Group's GranParaiso and Auberge Beach Residences and Spa in Fort Lauderdale. According to Turnberry Associates CEO Jeffrey Soffer in an interview on CNBC, he doesn't believe that the South Florida real estate markets or prices will take a hit in the long term. “It’s just a way of life. It doesn’t happen that often, and the reality is that Florida’s very well prepared," said Soffer. At the same time Stuart Miller of Lennar Corp. announced that Irma has delayed hundreds of home deliveries. The nation's largest home builder said that close to 700 home deliveries in Florida, George and South Carolina have been impacted. The storm came just as the company was reporting new orders rising 8% year over year. Time will tell, but it is apparent that Miami is on the way back to business as usual where the real estate market has been bolstered in recent years due to both domestic and foreign demand alike.