Dateline: Miami Beach. The location: Texas de Brazil restaurant. The view: Looking up when it comes to opportunities for second home and vacation home buyers in the sought out areas of the Downtown-Biscayne Boulevard corridor and the Beaches.
So concluded the panel of real estate experts who presented to the more than 65 College of Business Administration alumni and students plus other real estate professionals attending the recent “View from the Beaches” event hosted by the Real Estate Alumni Affinity Council (REAAC) of Florida International University (FIU).
Speakers included Peter Zalewski, principal, Condo Vultures; Bob Waun, CEO, Vacation Home Finance; and Craig Werley, president, Focus Real Estate Advisors.
Wenceslao Fernandez Jr. (BBA ’92), REAAC board member and associate realtor with Keller Williams Realty Miami Beach, moderated the event.
According to Dan Berkovitz (BBA ’10), president, REAAC, the presenters addressed top-of-mind questions around demographics and other statistical data on the area’s second home buyers as well as financing challenges and opportunities in today’s marketplace.
Event offers forum for latest FIU real estate program news.
Also on hand were Joyce J. Elam, executive dean of the business school; and William Hardin, director of the Jerome Bain Real Estate Institute and the college’s real estate programs, who addressed the group with news of the growth of alumni chapters such as REAAC and the expansion of graduate programs such as the Master of Science in International Real Estate, taught at the Downtown Center.
Alex Morcate (MSIRE ’08, MSF ’08) is a fan of alumni-driven events like this one hosted by REAAC.
“The event provided more than just up-to-date information. It served as a forum to review what happened yesterday and discuss what could happen tomorrow,” he said. “The event also provided a means to bridge the gap between students, alumni, faculty and professionals. Bringing these groups together to share their opinions was invaluable.”
Interested in upcoming REAAC events? Please contact Berkovitz for more details.
Photos courtesy of Jenny Huertas, Condo Vultures
