Industry experts and research analysts have been telling Globest.com for some time now about the high demand and strong fundamentals that now exist in the South Florida real estate market.<\/p>\n
For example,\u00a0Calum Weaver<\/strong>, executive managing director of Cushman & Wakefield\u2019s capital markets division in South Florida and the leader of its multifamily investment properties team, recently said, \u201cThe South Florida multifamily fundamentals are and will continue to remain strong. \u00a0Population\/household growth, lower homeownership rates, higher home prices, demographic preferences to rent versus buy, the low unemployment rate, wage growth starting to improve, all contribute towards an extremely healthy market that will continue throughout 2019.\u201d<\/p>\n Globest.com wanted to get a perspective from someone else in the trenches who on a day-to-day basis deals with investors of all types in South Florida\u2014Allison Herrera<\/strong>, loan production manager at\u00a0Sabal Capital Partners, LLC<\/strong>. Sabal is a leader in small balance commercial real estate loans and investments having invested nearly $9 billion nationally, headquartered in Irvine, CA.<\/p>\n Herrera tells Globest.com the specific market dynamics that are keeping South Florida in such high demand with local, domestic and international players and what investors can expect in 2019.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em>Globest.com: Why is the South Florida CRE lending market so unique? How does it compare to other markets you\u2019ve worked in?<\/strong><\/p>\n Herrera<\/strong>: The South Florida CRE market is unique in many ways. From Palm Beach County to Broward County, and down to Miami-Dade County, there is no other place like South Florida in the world. Ideal weather and strong tourism, steady population growth, healthy economic and job growth and rising single-family home rates, which create rental demand, all contribute to what makes South Florida a one-of-a-kind market. Historically, robust and increasing investment from global players further characterize South Florida markets. As a result of many of these factors, CAP rates remain low relative to other parts of Florida and the country.<\/p>\n