SOUTH FLORIDA NEWS

Why Wells Fargo Chose West Palm Beach for Its Wealth HQ

Wells Fargo is moving the headquarters of its $16 billion wealth division to West Palm Beach. The bank just signed a 50,000-square-foot lease at One Flagler. About 100 senior executives will relocate by late 2026. This makes Wells Fargo the first major U.S. bank to base its wealth management operations in South Florida. The deal also brings One Flagler to 100% occupancy for Stephen Ross. And for West Palm Beach, it confirms what the last five years have been building toward: this city is now a financial capital.

Key Takeaways

• Wells Fargo becomes the first major U.S. bank to base its wealth management operations in South Florida, joining tenants like GTCR, Bessemer Trust, Paulson Capital, and Baron Funds at One Flagler.

• One Flagler is…

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South Florida Housing Market Report: Palm Beach and Broward County January 2026

Two counties. Two very different stories. With a full year of 2025 data now in the books, Palm Beach County and Broward County are no longer moving in lockstep. Palm Beach is stabilizing with pockets of genuine strength. Broward is cooling off faster than many expected. If you own property, plan to buy, or want to invest in South Florida real estate, understanding where each market stands right now could shape your next move.

Key Takeaways

• Palm Beach County average sale prices rose 7% year-over-year while Broward saw only a 3% increase, with both counties showing just 1% median price growth.
• Days on market jumped 26-27% in both counties, but Palm Beach's absorption rate improved to 6.96 months while Broward's worsened to 9.01 months.
• Palm…

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Australian Developer Plans Boutique Office Building in Fort Lauderdale

An Australian firm is betting on Las Olas Boulevard with something you don't see every day: a boutique office and retail building with zero parking spaces. Coombes Property Group, a privately held company out of Bondi Junction, Sydney, has submitted plans to demolish three aging storefronts at 811 East Las Olas Boulevard and replace them with a six-story commercial building. For anyone watching the Fort Lauderdale market, this is a telling signal about where investor confidence is heading.

Key Takeaways

• Coombes Property Group plans a six-story Boutique Office Building in Fort Lauderdale

• at 811 E. Las Olas Blvd with 16,167 sq ft of retail on two floors and 27,256 sq ft of office space on four upper floors, replacing 1958-era…

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Which South Florida Real Estate Market Is Winning: Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, or Miami?

Three counties. Three billion-dollar bets. Three very different visions for South Florida's future. Palm Beach County is riding corporate migration and Wall Street South momentum. Fort Lauderdale is doubling down on waterfront luxury even as condos take 14 months to sell. Miami is going full Manhattan with $1,000-per-square-foot minimums. The data tells a clear story about who is winning right now, and buyers have more leverage than developers want to admit.

Key Takeaways

• Palm Beach County is outperforming with 7% price appreciation, sales up 1%, and the $500K-$750K range in seller's market territory at 4.41 months absorption.

• Broward County is showing warning signs, with sales down 7%, luxury absorption stretching to 14.54 months,…

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Why Oracle's Founder Shut Down Florida's Lion Country Safari KOA: Data Center or Luxury Development?

Larry Ellison paid $30 million for 600 acres in Loxahatchee. The KOA campground has now closed, annual passes are halted, and attractions are being phased out. The transformation of Lion Country Safari is underway.

Key Takeaways

• Larry Ellison's family purchased Lion Country Safari in Loxahatchee for approximately $30 million, acquiring roughly 600 acres that include the 254-acre wildlife preserve and adjacent KOA campground.

• The KOA campground permanently closed on April 30, 2026, ending more than 40 years of overnight stays beside the wildlife preserve.

• Ellison's previous purchases in Manalapan triggered what analysts call the "Ellison Effect," with neighboring properties appreciating dramatically and the entire market…

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From Porsche to Bentley: Dezer's Next Tower Will Be the Tallest Beachfront Building in Sunny Isles

Construction on the world's first Bentley-branded residential tower went vertical in June 2026. At 749 feet and 62 stories, it is on track to become the tallest beachfront building in Sunny Isles Beach.

The developer behind the celebrity-packed Porsche Design Tower is back with an even more ambitious project. Bentley Residences in Sunny Isles Beach will stand 749 feet tall when completed in 2028, making it one of the tallest beachfront towers in the country. Residences start at $5.8 million and climb to $37.5 million for the penthouses. If you thought parking your Porsche in your living room was impressive, wait until you see what Dezer Development is building next. For luxury buyers watching Fort Lauderdale and the surrounding coastal markets, this…

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Paramount Theatre Palm Beach Is Becoming a Private Club and Luxury Residence Redevelopment

The Paramount Theatre Palm Beach is getting a second life. This 1927 landmark at 139 North County Road, designed by Joseph Urban (the same architect behind Mar-a-Lago), just won preliminary approval to become a private club with a public cafe and a single luxury residence on the upper floors. After sitting largely vacant since 2021 when the Paramount Church closed its doors, the historic Paramount Theatre could begin construction later this year if the Landmarks Preservation Commission gives final approval. For buyers, sellers, and investors watching Palm Beach real estate, this adaptive reuse project signals how the island is balancing preservation with modern development.

Key Takeaways

• Woerner Holdings paid $14 million for the Paramount…

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Florida Homeowners Could Soon Vote to Dissolve Their HOA Under New Reform Bill

After months of protests, investigations, and a rally outside the state Capitol, Florida's HOA reform movement finally has a bill number. HB 657, filed by Miami Republican Rep. Juan Carlos Porras, would overhaul how homeowners' associations operate across the state. The 32-page package creates a new community association court, gives homeowners a direct legal pathway to sue their HOA, and introduces a formal process to dissolve an association if enough residents vote for it. For the millions of Floridians living in HOA communities, including homeowners in Palm Beach and Broward Counties, this bill could reshape the power dynamics between residents and their boards.

Key Takeaways

• HB 657 creates a new community association court specifically for…

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The Billionaire Next Door: Why Florida's Luxury Gap Is Unlike Anywhere Else in America

Florida now claims five of the top ten metros with the widest price gaps between typical homes and luxury properties. According to Realtor.com's December 2025 luxury report, markets like Naples, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach are seeing luxury homes sell for four to twelve times the price of median-priced properties in the same area. Even bigger news: the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach metro has officially surpassed New York City as the region with the most million-dollar listings in the country. If you are buying, selling, or investing in South Florida, this shift in wealth concentration changes everything about how you should approach the market.

Key Takeaways

• Five Florida metros rank in the top ten nationally for luxury price…

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Stephen Ross Acquires Majority of Southbridge Condo Building Near Mar-a-Lago

Stephen Ross is at it again. An affiliate of Related Ross just bought 45 units at Southbridge, a 1981 condo building steps from Mar-a-Lago, for $37.3 million. That gives the billionaire developer 71% control of the property. Most of these units were previously appraised at less than $250,000, meaning sellers walked away with significant premiums. If you own an aging condo along the Intracoastal in West Palm Beach, developers are coming for your building, and this deal proves they are willing to pay up.

Key Takeaways

• Related Ross paid $37.3 million for 45 of 63 units at Southbridge (3915 S. Flagler Drive), giving the firm 71% control of the waterfront property located at the base of the bridge to Palm Beach.

• Florida's post-Surfside…

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