Over the past five years, the national office market has faced its fair share of challenges: hybrid work reshaping demand, a surge in sublease spaces and rents stagnating in many cities. But Miami’s office market? It’s been a standout performer, and it’s soaring, not just holding its ground. From the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Miami began to separate itself from other major metros. While cities across the country struggled to coax tenants back to the office, Miami became a hotspot for companies eager to expand. What began as an influx of interest from financial firms, law practices and tech companies quickly evolved into a significant shift. These weren’t temporary moves — these were long-term leases and major investments. Since 2020, Miami-Dade has absorbed nearly 3 million square feet of office space. Unlike other cities where growth has fluctuated, Miami’s demand has been steady. Even as leasing slowed down nationally in 2023, Miami managed to hold strong. By 2024, leasing activity picked up again, and the first quarter of 2025 saw impressive absorption numbers. A major factor in Miami’s success is its disciplined approach to office development. While other markets overbuilt, leading to high vacancy rates, Miami’s new supply has …
Florida
AVENTURA, FLA. — Seritage Growth Properties, a REIT created by Sears Holdings in 2015, has signed leases with 17 new tenants at Esplanade at Aventura, its 215,000-square-foot mixed-use development located in the northeastern Miami suburb of Aventura. Retail and restaurant concepts including The Salty Donut, If So, Chip City and The Shade Store recently opened at the property, while Tremble, Bank of America and Hästens will open this summer. Pura Vida Miami, Salt & Straw, Starbucks Coffee, Wairua Beauty and Next Health are expected to open this fall. Additional stores that will be arriving later in the year include 7th Avenue, Lola + The Boys, The Keys Co. and Anatomy Fitness. Lastly, Feulard Aesthetic Lab plans to open in spring 2026. The new tenants will occupy approximately 55,000 square feet at the development. Completed in 2023 and located adjacent to Aventura Mall, Esplanade at Aventura features more than 40 retail, dining and entertainment options, including Pinstripes and The LEGO Store. The project also includes healthcare tenants like One Medical and CCRM Fertility, as well as coworking operator Industrious.
Ocean Bank Provides $54M Construction Loan for Whole Foods-Anchored Retail Project in Miami Beach
by John Nelson
MIAMI BEACH, FLA. — Ocean Bank has provided a $54 million construction loan for a retail development in Miami Beach. The borrower, 1901 Alton Property LLC, an affiliate of veteran developer Russell Galbut and his daughter Marisa Galbut, is developing a commercial building that will house a 40,883-square-foot Whole Foods Market, 4,000-square-foot Wells Fargo bank branch and 271 parking spaces. Jorge Hernandez of Ocean Bank originated the financing on behalf of the borrower, which has been doing business with Ocean Bank for 35 years. Details of the loan and the development timeline were not released.
MIAMI — Walker & Dunlop has arranged a $125 million construction loan for Cassi, a 20-story apartment tower located at 91 N.E. 36th St. in Miami’s Design District. Sean Reimer, Aaron Appel, Keith Kurland, Jonathan Schwartz, Adam Schwartz, Jordan Casella and Michael Stepniewski led Walker & Dunlop’s New York Capital Markets team in arranging the financing on behalf of the borrower, a joint venture between the Miami Design District Associates and The Forbes Co. Amerant Bank was the lead lender, with Bank Hapoalim also participating. Cassi will feature one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments averaging 1,509 square feet in size. The tower will also include 23,000 square feet of retail space.
Native Realty Brokers $10.3M Sale of Pinecrest Square Shopping Center in Fort Lauderdale
by John Nelson
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. — Native Realty has brokered the $10.3 million sale of Pinecrest Square, a 40,409-square-foot shopping center located in the Fort Lauderdale neighborhood of Cypress Creek. Tenants at the property include ChenMed, 7-Eleven, Jiffy Lube, Cheers Food and Spirits and Veterinary Emergency Group. Jaime Sturgis of Native Realty represented the buyer, an entity doing business as 903 Cypress Creek LLC, in the transaction. An entity operating as Pinecrest AP LLC was the seller. Native is also leasing Pinecrest Square on behalf of the new owner.
JLL Arranges Two Construction Takeout Loans Totaling $114M for EDEN Living BTR Projects in Florida
by John Nelson
WEST MELBOURNE AND JACKSONVILLE, FLA. — JLL has arranged $114 million in bridge loans on behalf of BTR developer EDEN Living to refinance existing construction debt on two Florida properties. The package includes a $70 million loan for the 373-unit EDEN at Heritage Lakes in West Melbourne and a $44 million loan for the 265-unit EDEN at Kendall West in Jacksonville. The direct lender of the construction takeout loans was not disclosed. Both properties were developed in 2024. Max La Cava, Melissa Quinn, Rob Rothaug and Jade Starkey of JLL arranged the financing on behalf of the borrower.
SRS Real Estate Negotiates $38M Sale of Office Building in Jacksonville Leased to Deutsche Bank
by Abby Cox
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. — SRS Real Estate Partners has negotiated the $38 million sale of a 150,000-square-foot office building located at 5201 Gate Parkway in Jacksonville. Deutsche Bank fully occupies the property on a long-term, corporate-guaranteed lease. Built in 2006, the three-story building sits on 13 acres. Jeff Gates of SRS Capital Markets’ San Francisco office represented the seller, a New York-based institutional investor, in the transaction. The buyer was AJC Partners LLC, a private family office based in Michigan and New York City.
South Florida remains one of the most attractive markets for multifamily investment in the United States, driven by population growth, job creation and limited rental supply. While 2024 saw slower transaction volumes, fundamentals suggest a rebound is coming in 2025. This article explores trends in investment sales, debt capital markets and joint venture (JV) equity, highlighting how strategic structuring and strong relationships are driving activity in today’s selective capital environment. Poised for sales growth Miami’s multifamily market continues to thrive, fueled by population growth, high rental demand and major developments. The city’s job market, with an unemployment rate of just 2.4 percent, is expected to grow by over 18,000 positions in 2025. Corporate expansions — like Citadel, MSC Group, Nvidia, Microsoft and Shopify — have driven demand for luxury rentals, while vacancy rates remain under 5 percent. With home prices rising over 70 percent in the past five years and mortgage rates more than doubling, homeownership is out of reach for many. As a result, demand for luxury rentals remains strong, especially in suburban areas where transit-oriented developments are emerging. One standout is Terra’s $1 billion Upland Park in West Miami-Dade County. In partnership with the county, the project includes …
MIAMI — Newmark has arranged a $111 million construction loan for The Perrin, a 310-unit multifamily development located at 901 SW 3rd Ave. in Miami’s Brickell district. Danny Matz of Newmark secured the financing on behalf of the borrower, The Empira Group. Goldman Sachs provided the loan. The 26-story project will feature a mix of studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom floorplans, 2,500 square feet of ground-floor retail space and 380 parking spaces. Amenities at the property will include a fitness center with a yoga room, coworking spaces, entertainment lounge, resort-style pool with cabanas, barbecue grills, a rooftop Zen garden and a tea room. The development also offers immediate access to I-95 and the Brickell Metrorail station. The Perrin, which is Empira’s first high-rise development in the United States, is slated for completion in 2028.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. — Atlanta-based Mesa Capital Partners has acquired The Julington, a 260-unit luxury apartment community located in the Mandarin neighborhood of Jacksonville. Constructed in 2023 by RISE Development, the complex offers one-, two- and three-bedroom floorplans, ranging in size from 765 square feet to 1,426 square feet. The property features elevator-serviced units, as well as resident amenities such as private coworking spaces, a resort-style pool deck, pet spa and Zen garden. Walker & Dunlop’s Atlanta office arranged the financing for the acquisition. The sales price was not disclosed. Pegasus Residential will oversee day-to-day management of the property.