Master Brokers Forum Board Member Christopher Zoller shares the two words that all Miami Realtors should be using in their business.

Like every busy and experienced real estate pro in Miami, I have an arsenal of buzzwords I use to sell our region to prospective out-of-town clients. Most of them are fairly obvious: “sunshine,” “South Beach,” “shopping,” “restaurants,” and the like, which have served me well over the years. But recently, I find myself using two new words as I shuttle buyers around town – words that are having a much stronger impact than the old standards.

Those two words? (prepare yourself to be thrilled and titillated) They are: “Infrastructure” and “Transportation.”

My sarcasm aside, the importance of our region’s current infrastructural and transportation improvements cannot be overstated. In short, they will solidify South Florida as the Western Hemisphere’s primary global power in trade, commerce and tourism for generations to come. (Probably worth sharing with customers, right?)

Consider the following:

• Miami International Airport (MIA) is undergoing $6.4 billion in capital improvements, which will more than double the size of its terminals and concourses. This includes a new Intermodal Center, which will tie together all ground transportation (rental cars, Tri-Rail, Metrorail, Amtrak, buses, taxis, etc.).
• The Port of Miami is going through a $2 billion transformation, including a deep dredging overhaul that will keep the port in sync with the currently expanding Panama Canal; intermodal/freight rail restoration that will smooth the flow of goods to and from the port, and a dramatic tunnel project that will route all truck traffic directly to and from the highways, keeping them out of our new burgeoning downtown.
• Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is in the midst of a $2 billion improvement plan, primarily through the expansion of its south runway over the busy I-95.
• Three major capital improvement projects are also taking place at Port Everglades – totaling more than $500 million – adding five new berths, deepening navigational channels and updating intermodal freight rail.

I mention the improvements to Broward County’s major gateways because South Florida is becoming increasingly connected, and inter-regional transportation (between Miami, Broward and Palm Beach) has accordingly become more critical. For example, I was delighted to recently read that, for the first time, we will have non-stop flights between South Florida and Stockholm. But those flights will be to and from FLL, increasing that airport’s global reach and making it more and more the choice for people in Aventura, Sunny Isles and other parts of northern Miami-Dade County.

All of which underscore the exciting major improvements that are coming to South Florida’s highway systems. Renovations to I-595, I-395, the Dolphin/Palmetto interchange, the Palmetto/I-95 interchange and the Gratigny (and the addition of “managed lanes”) will all make traffic throughout the region exponentially smoother.

Will all these improvements increase South Florida’s property values? Probably not for a while. Do they hit all of those deep emotional sensors which motivate buyers to sign? I can’t say that they do. But for those buyers who are interested in making South Florida their home, or moving (or starting) their businesses here, or anyone wanting to get from Aventura to South Beach with minimal hassle, this news about infrastructure and transportation is completely transformational, and enlightened Realtors would do well to advise their clients accordingly.

Author’s Note: While I follow the news about these various improvements on my own, their collective impact was “driven home” for me by an amazing presentation from John Dohm, past president of the Realtors Commercial Alliance of Miami and the director of business development for Infinity Commercial Real Estate. John’s presentation is an entertaining review of Miami’s historical origins; the city’s dramatic increases in population, commerce, and real estate values; and a detailed examination of the improvements I have outlined above. To download your own copy of John’s incredible PowerPoint Presentation, click here.

Disclaimer: The accuracy and authenticity of the information in this article has not been verified by the Master Brokers Forum or Miami Agent, is subject to change, is provided “as is” and is not guaranteed. The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the Master Brokers Forum or Miami Agent. The Master Brokers Forum and Miami Agent make no representations or warranties of any nature with regard to the information contained in this article.

Christopher Zoller is an agent with EWM Realty in Coral Gables. Along with having been in real estate for more than 30 years, he is a member of the Miami Association of Realtors board of governors, a MBF board member, and a top producer, with $12 million in sales in 2012 alone.