Fort Lauderdale is in the midst of a dramatic transformation.

There was a time when Fort Lauderdale was defined as a haven for both retirees and spring breakers.  These days that dynamic has changed, with an influx of baby boomers from all over the country, as well as international buyers from South America and Europe. 

During the past year, several new luxury hotels have made their mark on an already sophisticated & active destination.  Recent hotel openings have included the new Ritz Carlton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, along with the new Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort.  In 2009, Fort Lauderdale will welcome Florida's first W Hotel & Residences along with Florida's first Trump International Resort Hotel.   New luxury projects from Mandarin Oriental & Waldorf Astoria are also proposed for Fort Lauderdale Beach.

The downtown, too, has undergone an evolution: Las Olas Boulevard is filled with new and sophisticated shops & restaurants and new condominiums now line the riverfront.

Fort Lauderdale is a world-class destination that draws a sophisticated international clientele.

In addition to beautiful beaches and beautiful weather, Fort Lauderdale has more than 300 miles of navigable waterways and is known as both the Yachting Capital of the World and the Venice of America.  Boat & yacht enthusiasts know that Fort Lauderdale is just minutes to the ocean and hours to the Bahamas, hence its desirability.

Las Olas Boulevard & downtown offer a multitude of unique shopping, dining & nightlife options.  Fort Lauderdale is also a cultural mecca, with stunning venues such as the Broward Center for the Performing Arts along with the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art and the Museum of Discovery and Science.

Shopping is world-class.  The Galleria Mall, anchored by Neiman Marcus, Dillard's and Macy's, is steps from the beach on Sunrise Boulevard and offers fine dining restaurants such as The Capital Grille and Seasons 52.

West of the city, the new Hard Rock Hotel & Casino has added a Vegas-like flavor to the area, with more than a dozen clubs and restaurants in addition to the casino.

The top-rated Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport offers easy access with over 600 flights a day and non-stop service to more than 40 cities.  The airport is a 10 minute drive from both downtown and the beaches and 5 minutes from Port Everglades, one of the world's largest cruise ports and the winter home of the Queen Mary 2.

The real estate market in Fort Lauderdale continues to remain strong and desirable. 

The economic fundamentals in Fort Lauderdale are stronger than ever.  Continued job growth and the influx of wealthy baby boomers has been beneficial for the local economy and the real estate market.

Greater Fort Lauderdale attracts more than 10.1 million annual visitors.  Luxury hotel brands and upscale retailers are moving in en masse.  The demographics are stronger than ever and this trend will continue as these new resorts open in the coming months.  Many of these upscale visitors will desire to become residents once they experience the lifestyle that Fort Lauderdale has to offer.

The desirability and scarcity of waterfront property means values will only continue to increase in the long run due to laws of supply and demand.  Downtown and the surrounding areas will continue to grow to keep up with the increased population growth. 

In comparison to the Miami and West Palm Beach markets, the Fort Lauderdale market remains fundamentally stronger.  Both the Miami and West Palm Beach markets are saturated with new construction in addition to resales.  While new construction has happened at a record pace in Fort Lauderdale, our market is not saturated and still has room for future growth and appreciation.

A multitude of factors make now the time to consider an investment in Fort Lauderdale.  Values will only increase as the city continues to evolve into a world-class resort destination.