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Real Estate
Michael Timmerman accurately forecast the housing downturn in 2005 and sold his Naples-based economic consulting firm that year. Photo by Nancy DeNike.
Michael Timmerman accurately forecast the housing downturn in 2005 and sold his Naples-based economic consulting firm that year. Photo by Nancy DeNike.

Unpopular Accuracy

Developers and builders sometimes don’t like to hear what Michael Timmerman has to say, but he’s been right more often than not. It pays to listen carefully when he speaks.

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Brian Tietz David Fry, the president and CEO of WCI Communities, says the Bonita Springs-based company will start building homes again.

Salvage Operation

A group of creditors who control WCI Communities after it emerged from bankruptcy reorganization is betting the company can come back as a homebuilder. The company has fences to mend first.

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Gary Quill, executive director of the Charlotte County Airport Authority, says the airport’s lack of debt helps him attract discount passenger airlines such as Allegiant Air. The airport doesn’t charge airlines to land in Punta Gorda, relying on income from parking and rental-car fees instead. Photos by JimJett.com.

Land for free

The Punta Gorda airport in Charlotte County is starting to build a reputation as a low-cost airline alternative to the larger airports in Fort Myers and Sarasota. About 2.3 million people live within a 90-minute drive.

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Mark Cooney, left, and Randy Mills launched The Land Sharks in 2007, shortly after the Tampa Bay land sales boom. They are still guiding deals, but at much lower prices. Photo by Mark Wemple.

Circling the Deals

Veteran land dealer Mark Cooney is forging ahead with his unusually named firm, The Land Sharks, despite the tough real estate market. A move across the hall helped.

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Sarasota attorney Robert Lincoln lived several other lives before law school. He also worked for technology companies and captained boats and yachts in the Caribbean.

Dual Roles

Robert Lincoln despises Hometown Democracy and is a trusted backer of developers and their legal rights throughout the Gulf Coast. But in one huge local project, he’s the man fighting developers.

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A residential and commercial property management firm founded by Chris Abbott, right, grew so fast last year that he brought on a business partner. That partner, Tom Wagenhauser, left, joined the company last year.

A Proper Way

Chris Abbott thought he would grow his one-man real estate company slow and steady when he founded it in late 2008. Eight employees and a half-dozen big contracts later, that plan is history.

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Commercial real estate was hit hard in 2009, as evidenced by commercial spaces available for lease in San Marco Plaza in Lakewood Ranch. But 2010 could see the start of a recovery.

Find the Bottom

With rental rates down and vacancies up, will 2010 drag commercial property owners further underwater or to some needed stability?

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