SOUTH FLORIDA NEWS - January, 2026

Country Club Dues in 2026 and Their Impact on South Florida Home Values

If you live in a country club community, you’ve probably noticed the pattern. Monthly statements are creeping up, renovation updates are more frequent, and club calendars look busier than they did a few years ago. Country club dues in 2026 are expected to rise nationwide, with many clubs planning increases of around 5%. For homeowners and buyers, this is more than a lifestyle issue. It’s a real estate consideration that can affect pricing, demand, and long-term value.

In South Florida, the country club is rarely just an amenity. It often functions as a core driver of property demand, buyer perception, and resale strength. When dues rise this year, it can influence buyer budgets, timing decisions, and how homes inside club communities are positioned…

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Coral Edge Townhome Community in Margate: Pulte Adds to Broward’s Golf Course Redevelopment Trend

A closed golf course in Margate is lined up for a major change. PulteGroup, one of the biggest homebuilders in the country, bought the former Margate Executive Golf Course site at 7870 Margate Boulevard and plans the Coral Edge townhome community. Public reporting and builder materials describe a 132-unit townhome neighborhood with pricing that starts in the $500,000 range.

This is also part of a bigger real estate pattern in Broward. Golf course land is one of the last ways to add housing at scale in built-out suburbs. That is why this one deal is worth watching.

Key Takeaways

• The Coral Edge townhome community is planned on about 21 acres at 7870 Margate Boulevard, the former Margate Executive Golf Course. 

• Current public…

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Mandarin Oriental Boca Raton Hotel Uses Chapter 11 to Keep the Project Alive

A luxury hotel and branded-residence tower in downtown Boca Raton was supposed to be a headline win years ago. Instead, the Mandarin Oriental Boca Raton Hotel site has become a slow-motion real estate problem: long delays, rising carry costs, buyer disputes, and now a Chapter 11 filing meant to hold the project together long enough to refinance and finish.

Key Takeaways

• The owner entities behind the Mandarin Oriental Boca Raton Hotel filed Chapter 11 on December 23, 2025 in the Southern District of Florida.
  

• Reporting describes it as a lender-supported, “consensual” restructuring meant to protect value and finish construction.
  

• For Boca Raton luxury hotel development, it shows how delays and higher rates can make time the…

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Luxury Condos in Fort Lauderdale: Sereno’s Shift to Hybrid Living

Imagine reserving your dream condo just steps from the beach in Fort Lauderdale—a serene, boutique property with stunning views and luxury amenities. Now, picture the developer coming back and saying, "We’re not just building condos anymore. We’re adding a 113-room hotel, more condos, retail space, and a parking garage—all in the same project." What started as a peaceful coastal retreat has now become a dynamic condo-hotel hybrid, blending luxury living, tourism, and commercial opportunities into one ambitious development. This transformation isn't just a change in plans; it’s a shift that could redefine the future of Fort Lauderdale’s real estate market.

Key Takeaways

• Sereno has evolved into a condo-hotel hybrid, offering both condo sales and…

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What the Manor Cypress Creek Development Means for Affordable Housing in Fort Lauderdale

With South Florida facing an escalating affordable housing crisis, projects like Manor Cypress Creek are stepping up to offer much-needed solutions. Miami-based Related Group’s development of 422 new apartments in the heart of Cypress Creek could be a turning point for the area, offering much-needed housing options while revitalizing the community. As Fort Lauderdale continues to grow, this type of development is key to addressing the region’s shortage of attainable housing. Here's why this project matters not just to Cypress Creek but to the broader real estate market.

Key Takeaways:

• Workforce Housing Solution: Manor Cypress Creek adds 62 affordable units for residents earning up to 120% of the area median income (AMI), addressing the local…

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Inside the New Publix Mystery and Stephen Ross in West Palm Beach

A new Publix supermarket planned for downtown West Palm Beach has revealed something bigger: billionaire Stephen Ross is quietly assembling an entire city block worth $10+ billion in development potential. Here's what public records just uncovered about his land strategy near CityPlace. But what does this have to do with a grocery store? It’s all part of a larger strategy by Related Ross, the development company led by Stephen Ross, to assemble a sizable chunk of land in the heart of downtown. The result? A $10 billion vision to turn West Palm Beach into a thriving hub of business, innovation, and lifestyle.

Key Takeaways

• A single Publix site plan quietly revealed a much larger land assembly tied to Stephen Ross in West Palm Beach,…

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The Countdown to Opportunity Zones 2.0: What’s Changing in 2026

In 2026, Opportunity Zones aren’t just winding down; they’re resetting. This is the bridge year between OZ 1.0’s final deadline for new investments and the launch of Opportunity Zones 2.0 on January 1, 2027, with a new map and stricter standards that are expected to leave fewer qualifying areas. In other words, 2026 is the year investors decide whether their next decade of gains is tied to the expiring OZ 1.0 landscape or positioned for the more competitive Opportunity Zones 2.0 era.

Key Takeaways

• The original Opportunity Zone program sunsets at the end of 2026 before relaunching as Opportunity Zones 2.0 in January 2027.
  

• Stricter income thresholds under Opportunity Zones 2.0 are expected to reduce the number of eligible zones by…

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Manalapan Luxury Real Estate Gets a New Benchmark After a $65M Sale

The estate last sold for $28 million in 2021. Just four years later, it changed hands again, this time to billionaire optometrist, inventor, and investor Dr. Herbert Wertheim, for $61.75 million on the deed, or roughly $65 million when furnishings and credits are included, according to The Real Deal.

For anyone watching Manalapan luxury real estate, the message is clear: at the top of this market, buyers pay a premium for what can’t be recreated, scarce ocean-to-Intracoastal land, rare boating-and-beach access, and a level of privacy that simply isn’t available in most coastal neighborhoods.

Key Takeaways

• Dr. Herbert A. Wertheim purchased a Manalapan mansion for about $65 million.

• The 18,126-square-foot oceanfront home last sold…

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Data Center in South Florida: What Project Tango Could Mean for Palm Beach County

They moved west for the open land, quiet nights, and that “still feels rural” vibe. Now neighbors are gearing up to fight a proposed data center in South Florida that could run 24/7, right next to new communities and within reach of a local school.

The project, known as Project Tango, was framed as Palm Beach County’s entry into the AI boom, and the plan wasn’t small. Developers had expanded proposals for a huge data center and warehouse campus on the 202.7-acre Central Park Commerce Center site at 20125 State Road 80 (Southern Blvd.). The County Planning Commission was set to consider the plans on Dec. 4, following an application filed by PBA Holdings and WPB Logistics Owner LLC. The development team was a partnership between Hartford Life and…

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Food Delivery Robots in Fort Lauderdale: What it means for Real Estate in Las Olas

Robots are officially delivering meals on Las Olas Boulevard. This is a signal of where Fort Lauderdale real estate is heading. The launch of food delivery robots in Fort Lauderdale highlights which neighborhoods are dense, walkable, and modern enough to support next-generation urban services. On December 5, Serve Robotics began autonomous deliveries for Uber Eats customers in Downtown Fort Lauderdale and along Las Olas Boulevard, placing Broward County on the map as a tech-ready, lifestyle-driven market. For buyers, renters, and investors, this rollout quietly reinforces why these areas continue to attract demand.

Key Takeaways

• Serve Robotics Fort Lauderdale robots began Uber Eats deliveries on Las Olas on Dec 5.

• Walkable areas with…

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