Miami Real Estate Investing Podcast With Peter Zalewski

In this Miami Condo Exchange™ episode, Peter Zalewski discusses how investment around President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate is raising the prospects of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

The Miami Condo Exchange™ is a live podcast at 4 pm (Miami time) on Tuesdays about the latest South Florida condo stats, metrics and trends hosted by expert Peter Zalewski of the Miami Condo Investing Club™.

Recorded weekly in Greater Downtown Miami, the program’s core premise is to analyze condos as commodities, no different than pork bellies, oil or salty snacks.

The weekly show intends to cut through the marketing hype to focus strictly on the numbers for investors and real estate professionals.

A regular feature of the Tuesday show is the Miami Condo Cliff Index™, which tracks active listings and pending sales in realtime to forecast official closed sales data that lags by 30 to 120 days.

Tune in every Tuesday at 4 PM (EST) at MiamiCondo.Club or on the social media account of Peter Zalewski to watch the livestreams free.

Episode Overview

In the Feb. 24, 2026, episode of the Miami Condo Exchange™ podcast, host Peter Zalewski discusses how the South Florida Overall Condo Cliff Index™ increased 2.49% to an all-time high of 8.66 points as the "Mar-a-Lago effect" creates a breakaway lead for Palm Beach County.

This latest Week-over-Week jump follows a climb to 8.45 points on Feb. 17, 2026, marking the highest level recorded since the Overall Index was established on Jan. 1, 2025.

During the 58-minute podcast, Zalewski analyzed the widening performance gap between the South Florida counties of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach as the Winter Buying Season enters its final stretch.

The market momentum is currently being driven by a power shift toward "Wall Street South," where the halo effect of the Trump estate and a new Vanderbilt University campus are acting as high-octane fuel for the northern corridor.

With the symbolic hurdles of the Coconut Grove Arts Festival and the Miami Beach International Boat Show now cleared, sellers face a narrowing window to find a buyer before Summer’s heat, humidity and hurricane warnings thin the investor pool beginning in May.

Concurrently, the South Florida Vintage Condo Cliff Index™ climbed 2.17% this week to reach 8.15 points for the week ending Feb. 24, 2026.

This move for Vintage condos—at least 30 years old—follows a rise to 7.98 points on Feb. 17, 2026, from 7.55 points on Feb. 10, 2026.

Vintage units remain the workhorse of the tricounty market, accounting for nearly 69% of all active listings and about 65% of pending sales across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach.

Zalewski attributed the heavy Vintage volume to a “capitulation” by sellers who are discounting prices to escape the financial burden of mandatory inspections and 10% interest rates on association loans.

Savvy buyers are treating these inspected units as a “value play,” often securing them at a 50% discount compared to the Overall condo market, with some coastal pockets such as Sunny Isles Beach seeing discounts as high as nearly 80%.

In this episode of Miami Condo Mondays™, the hosts discuss how luxury condo listings of at least $1 million are struggling due to a slowdown in transaction velocity in Coconut Grove.

Miami Condo Mondays™ is a live podcast hosted by Peter Zalewski of the Miami Condo Investing Club™ and veteran broker Jenny Huertas of CVRRealty.com providing an in-depth look at the latest residential real estate trends in South Florida.

Recorded weekly in Greater Downtown Miami, the podcast offers a one-hour discussion on various real estate topics, including preconstruction condos, market trends and investment strategies.

The hosts share their expertise, with Zalewski focusing on macro perspectives and Huertas offering micro insights from her on-the-ground experience.

Tune in every Monday at 4 PM (EST) on the social media accounts of Peter Zalewski and Jenny Huertas for insights on the latest trends in the South Florida condo market.

Episode Overview

In this episode of the Miami Condo Mondays™ podcast on Feb. 23, 2026, co-hosts Jenny Huertas of CVR Realty and Peter Zalewski of the Miami Condo Investing Club™ break down why the wealthy enclave of Coconut Grove—one of the strongest markets tracked with the South Florida Condo Cliff Index™—is finally showing cracks.

The discussion is based on the latest research conducted in anticipation of the planned Coconut Grove Condo Correction Walking Tour™ scheduled for 10 am Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.

During the 64-minute podcast, Huertas and Zalewski explore the mounting inventory pileup where 11.8 months of luxury condo supply is now sitting on the market, driven by a disconnect between premium asking prices and anemic sales velocity.

While the Overall market sits at nearly 11 months of supply in the fist half of the South Florida Winter Buying Season, the luxury segment of the Coconut Grove market is becoming a primary area of concern for investors and cash-strapped sellers alike.

The active listing data reveals a definitive “tipping point” at the $1 million mark, where units priced below that threshold remain in equilibrium or a Sellers Market, while everything priced above it has stalled.

Huertas and Zalewski dig into the specific sales pace of the market, using 2025 Summer Buying Season transaction data to gauge just how long it will take to clear the 94 luxury listings currently sitting idle on the market.

Additionally, Huertas and Zalewski discussed the historical context of the West Grove’s Bahamian heritage, Coconut Grove’s contributions to the U.S. cultural zeitgeist and the legacy of Henry Flagler’s Florida East Coast railroad to Key West that shaped the neighborhood’s unique landscape more than a century ago.

The duo also discuss the emerging value play of Vintage condos, where motivated sellers are willing to cover the upfront repair and assessment costs in combination with discounted prices just to move their units.

The discussion provides a roadmap for anyone trying to time the South Florida Winter Buying Season before it fades into Summer’s heat, humidity and hurricane warnings.

This is copy of a live podcast recorded Fridays at 4 pm in Miami featuring Daniel Hernandez of Compass Real Estate, Peter Zalewski of MiamiCondo.Club and Andrew Rasken of Meta Development.

Welcome to Buy, Sell, Hold Miami™ weekly podcast for a no-nonsense perspective on South Florida real estate from a pair of locals with differing opinions.

Each week, real estate advisor Daniel Hernandez of Compass Real Estate and longtime analyst Peter Zalewski of the Miami Condo Investing Club™ break down the housing market headlines, unpack policy changes and provide unfiltered analysis on everything from condo terminations to Vintage unit fire sales, luxury speculative homes to developer strategies.

Whether you are a homeowner, investor or real estate professional, Hernandez and Zalewski will give a local perspective on what is really happening across the tricounty South Florida region of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach with no fluff, no hype and plenty of data-backed opinions.

We call balls and strikes on when to buy, sell and hold.

Episode Topics

For the Feb. 20, 2026, podcast, Hernandez and Zalewski are joined by special guest Developer Andrew Rasken of Meta Development to give their take on the following five topics:

1. Condos: Boutique > Highrise

2. Crossing The Chasm: Worth It

3. Expensive Dirt

4. Delivering For A Different Buyer

5. Palantir Votes For Miami

This podcast is broadcast live at 4 pm (EST) on the social media accounts of Daniel Hernandez and Peter Zalewski.

Episode Overview

In this Feb. 20, 2026, episode of the Buy, Sell, Hold Miami™ podcast, Hernandez, Zalewski and special guest Andrew Rasken of Meta Development cut through the local rhetoric, delivering straight talk on five of the biggest topics of critical importance to South Florida investors.

The trio discuss each topic and then announce whether each of them is a Buy, a Sell or a Hold on the issue. Their verdicts often differ, leading to sharp debate on the issue before moving on to the next topic.

During the 75-minute discussion, the trio analyzes the growing dominance of the boutique development model as a safer alternative to massive highrise towers, with Rasken detailing how Meta Development left density on the table to prioritize intentional, curated design.

The conversation pivots to Rasken’s personal “Origin Story,” tracing his transition from building spec houses to developing boutique condos like Colette and Opus Coconut Grove.

The panel engages in a heated debate regarding the recent Palantir software company’s relocation to Aventura, weighing whether the tech giant’s arrival signals a permanent ecosystem shift or mere “ballyhoo” intended to capture the attention of a friendly administration.

They also tackle the rising cost of land, questioning if the current $520 million record for stabilized office land marks the peak of Miami’s irrational exuberance or merely the fifth inning of a long-term wealth migration.

Finally, the group explores why the domestic buyer now demands “Curated Floor Plans” that mimic single-family living, as Rasken explains the necessity of finishing units with floors, kitchens and closets to meet the standards of high-earning relocators.

The discussion concludes with a look at the “Safety Play” of South American capital, noting that despite the weak Brazilian Real, the desire for a secure principal investment continues to drive demand for boutique products in Class A submarkets.

In this episode of Condo Capitalism™, Peter Zalewski and broker-owner Jenny Huertas of CVRRealty.com discussed the growing number of REO and shortsale units listed for sale in Greater Downtown Miami.

Condo Capitalism™ is a weekly podcast hosted by Peter Zalewski of the Miami Condo Investing Club™ that provides data-driven analysis on distressed real estate—foreclosures, shortsales and bank-owned REOs—in the tricounty South Florida region of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach.

The program tracks the Florida Condo Association Financial Cliff, where rising maintenance fees, special assessments and insurance costs are squeezing cash-strapped owners.

On the show, experts analyze how the national “two-sided risk”—rising inflation and falling employment—magnifies these local pressures, potentially forcing a capitulation by owners who can no longer afford condo living.

Join Peter Zalewski at MiamiCondo.Club for a livestream every weekday at 4 pm (Miami time). On-demand recordings of all shows are available here.

Episode Overview

In the Feb. 19, 2026, episode of the Condo Capitalism™ podcast, host Peter Zalewski is joined by broker-owner Jenny Huertas of CVRRealty.com to discuss the state of the distressed condo market in Greater Downtown Miami.

During the 58-minute podcast, Huertas and Zalewski explored what it means that 61 distressed condos—both Real Estate Owned (REO) units by lenders and shortsales— are available for purchase as the South Florida Winter Buying Season begins to wind down before the buyer pool thins with the arrival of Summer’s heat, humidity and hurricane warnings.

Zalewski added color to the discussion by naming a growing list of well recognized condo projects in Greater Downtown Miami that now feature distressed units.

The duo discussed the factors driving a surge in bank-owned inventory despite the high-profile narrative of a booming South Florida condo market.

The conversation delved into the stark disconnect between lender asking prices and actual transaction data, which has led to a buildup of inventory that is no longer moving at its current valuation.

Huertas provided an on-the-ground perspective regarding why certain owners are opting for the distressed route rather than attempting a traditional sale in a market where inventory is mushrooming.

Specific attention was given to the “dead zone” of the Greater Downtown Miami condo market where transactions have effectively stalled, leaving sellers in a precarious position as carrying costs for these units continue to rise.

The duo identified the specific submarkets within Greater Downtown Miami that are bearing the brunt of this trend and how these distressed listings are beginning to recalibrate the expectations for neighboring unit owners.

In this episode of Miami Condo Mondays™, the hosts explore why the resale supply of condos with a minimum asking price of $1.6 million has ballooned to 47 months heading into the Summer Buying Season.

Miami Condo Mondays™ is a live podcast hosted by Peter Zalewski of the Miami Condo Investing Club™ and veteran broker Jenny Huertas of CVRRealty.com providing an in-depth look at the latest residential real estate trends in South Florida.

Recorded weekly in Greater Downtown Miami, the podcast offers a one-hour discussion on various real estate topics, including preconstruction condos, market trends and investment strategies.

The hosts share their expertise, with Zalewski focusing on macro perspectives and Huertas offering micro insights from her on-the-ground experience.

Tune in every Monday at 4 PM (EST) on the social media accounts of Peter Zalewski and Jenny Huertas for insights on the latest trends in the South Florida condo market.

Episode Overview

In this episode of Miami Condo Mondays™ podcast on Feb. 16, 2026, co-hosts Jenny Huertas‚ the broker-owner of CVR Realty, and Peter Zalewski of the Miami Condo Investing Club™ discuss how the Brickell Avenue Area submarket of Greater Downtown Miami has entered an Illiquid—or frozen—Buyers Market that is effectively on life support.

The report was based on research conducted for the planned Brickell Avenue Area Condo Correction Walking Tour™ scheduled for 10 am Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026.

This classification stems from a total lack of transaction activity where buying remains nonexistent due to overwhelming supply plus minimal demand, according to the Miami Condo Supply Tracker™.

While real estate is never as liquid as a stock, the current evaporation of buyers indicates that the most expensive properties in the Brickell Avenue Area are currently sitting in effectively a dead zone while the clock ticks toward the May seasonal shift.

The conversation explores how Brickell—the densest residential corridor in South Florida—is showing signs of significant stress with Overall condo prices falling 12% during the first half of the South Florida Winter Buying Season, according to a recent report.

The Brickell Avenue Area submarket is defined as the Eddie Rickenbacker Causeway north to the Miami River, and Biscayne Bay west to I-95.

This specific district—arguably the most popular condo neighborhood in the tricounty South Florida region of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach—accounts for more than 100 projects with nearly 29,450 units, according to MiamiCondo.Club.

During the 73-minute podcast, Huertas and Zalewski highlight how deals are scarce and prices can freefall as luxury units priced at a minimum of $1.6 million face nearly 47 months of resale supply.

This staggering accumulation of highend condo listings represents a market in critical condition where the absence of transaction velocity suggests a total disconnect between seller expectations and buyer reality.

Zalewski noted the $5.0 million to $10.0 million bracket of luxury condos that is in the most precarious situation. This segment had zero closed sales recorded during the 2025 Summer Buying Season of May through October that was used for this analysis.

This is copy of a live podcast recorded Fridays at 4 pm in Miami featuring real estate advisor Daniel Hernandez of Compass Real Estate and analyst Peter Zalewski of the Miami Condo Investing Club™.

Welcome to Buy, Sell, Hold Miami™ weekly podcast for a no-nonsense perspective on South Florida real estate from a pair of locals with differing opinions.

Each week, real estate advisor Daniel Hernandez of Compass Real Estate and longtime analyst Peter Zalewski of the Miami Condo Investing Club™ break down the housing market headlines, unpack policy changes and provide unfiltered analysis on everything from condo terminations to Vintage unit fire sales, luxury speculative homes to developer strategies.

Whether you are a homeowner, investor or real estate professional, Hernandez and Zalewski will give a local perspective on what is really happening across the tricounty South Florida region of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach with no fluff, no hype and plenty of data-backed opinions.

We call balls and strikes on when to buy, sell and hold.

Episode Topics

For the Feb. 13, 2026, podcast, Hernandez and Zalewski give their take on the following five topics:

1. Public Input?

2. California Dreaming No More

3. Vicki Lopez = Housing Advocate Of Year

4. Apartment Supply > Savings

5. Missoni Impossible

This podcast is broadcast live at 4 pm (EST) on the social media accounts of Daniel Hernandez and Peter Zalewski.

Episode Overview

In this Feb. 13, 2026, episode of the Buy, Sell, Hold Miami™ podcast, Hernandez and Zalewski cut through the local rhetoric, delivering straight talk on five of the biggest topics of critical importance to South Florida investors.

The hosts discuss each topic and then announce whether each of them is a Buy, a Sell or a Hold on the issue. Their verdicts often differ, leading to sharp debate on the issue before moving on to the next topic.

During the 60-minute discussion, Hernandez and Zalewski dive into the controversial “Land Use and Development Regulations” bill known as HB 399.

This legislative move in Tallahassee seeks to alter the voting requirements for Urban Development Boundary (UDB) changes, a shift that Zalewski suggests could trigger a “Land Banking 101” strategy for special interests.

The conversation pivots to the ongoing wealth migration from California, highlighting high-profile transplants like Mark Zuckerberg and the specific financial pressures driving billionaires toward Indian Creek.

Zalewski introduces his proprietary “Three-Step Rule” for newcomers to predict the longevity of these high-net-worth individuals in the Miami climate, sparking a debate on whether these moves are permanent or merely a temporary hedge.

Turning to local leadership, the hosts evaluate the recent recognition of Vicki Lopez as Housing Advocate of the Year by a local real estate organization.

The duo weighs her legislative wins against the remaining roadblocks in condo document transparency, debating whether her current track record earns her a spot in the housing Hall of Fame or just an MVP nod for the season.

The duo then addresses the massive apartment supply overhang, describing the rise of institutional landlords as the “Walmart of rentals” and the aggressive concessions being used to fill nearly 18,600 units.

Zalewski and Hernandez examine how this corporate strategy is impacting the ability of local residents to save for homeownership, leading to a unified verdict on the future of the rental market.

Finally, the episode closes with a deep dive into the construction defect lawsuit at the Missoni Baia highrise condo project in the Biscayne Boulevard Corridor submarket of Greater Downtown Miami.

Zalewski breaks down the “rookie developer” syndrome and provides a specific mathematical formula for estimating restoration timelines that every condo buyer in the current market needs to hear.

In this episode of Condo Capitalism™, private lender Alexis Agopian of A&S Capital in Aventura discusses his increased scrutiny evaluating new projects amid changing economic conditions.

Condo Capitalism™ is a weekly podcast hosted by Peter Zalewski of the Miami Condo Investing Club™ that provides data-driven analysis on distressed real estate—foreclosures, shortsales and bank-owned REOs—in the tricounty South Florida region of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach.

The program tracks the Florida Condo Association Financial Cliff, where rising maintenance fees, special assessments and insurance costs are squeezing cash-strapped owners.

On the show, experts analyze how the national “two-sided risk”—rising inflation and falling employment—magnifies these local pressures, potentially forcing a capitulation by owners who can no longer afford condo living.

Join Peter Zalewski at MiamiCondo.Club for a livestream every weekday at 4 pm (Miami time). On-demand recordings of all shows are available here.

Episode Overview

In the Feb. 12, 2026, episode of the Condo Capitalism™ podcast, host Peter Zalewski interviews private lender Alexis Agopian of A&S Capital of Aventura about the professional skepticism now defining the South Florida private debt market.

During the 73-minute podcast, Agopian details why he is presently adopting a strategic "wait and see" approach as private lending shifts from traditional "hard money" loans to more disciplined, institutional-oriented lending now increasingly backed by Wall Street.

Agopian’s transition toward professional caution is most evident in his skepticism to fund certain real estate sectors.

Agopian is limiting his exposure to buildings less than 10 years old to ensure structural and financial predictability.

The only exception to his age rule involves small buildings under three stories that are exempt from the most rigorous new state-mandated inspection laws adopted after the Surfside condo collapse in June 2021.

This narrow window allows for capital flow in specific residential segments while avoiding the complexity of highrise condo associations.

The lender is currently pivoting away from funding Vintage condo projects that are at least 30 years old.

Agopian is pausing the funding of units in buildings constructed in the 1990s or earlier. He views Vintage condos as a significant liability given the financial uncertainty of looming special assessments and mandatory safety inspections.

Agopian is also exercising increased discretion regarding bulk condo deals where buyers purchase at least 10 units in a single transaction.

He recently declined a package of 20 unsold units due to the lack of a viable exit strategy for the prospective buyer, even at a discounted price.

His logic holds that a bulk buyer is unlikely to move new units any faster than a developer who has failed to sell these preconstruction condos during the last four years.

The discussion provides an insider’s look at the cooling sentiment that exists given the current market visibility.

Agopian notes he is waiting on the sidelines as the 2025-26 South Florida Winter Buying Season of November through April winds down.

In this episode of Miami Condo Mondays™, the hosts also analyze a new Bloomberg report on a foreclosure spike in hard-money loans to speculative flippers in Southwest Florida.

Miami Condo Mondays™ is a live podcast hosted by Peter Zalewski of the Miami Condo Investing Club™ and veteran broker Jenny Huertas of CVRRealty.com providing an in-depth look at the latest residential real estate trends in South Florida.

Recorded weekly in Greater Downtown Miami, the podcast offers a one-hour discussion on various real estate topics, including preconstruction condos, market trends and investment strategies.

The hosts share their expertise, with Zalewski focusing on macro perspectives and Huertas offering micro insights from her on-the-ground experience.

Tune in every Monday at 4 PM (EST) on the social media accounts of Peter Zalewski and Jenny Huertas for insights on the latest trends in the South Florida condo market.

Episode Overview

In this episode of Miami Condo Mondays™ podcast on Feb. 9, 2026, co-hosts Jenny Huertas‚ the broker-owner of CVR Realty, and Peter Zalewski of the Miami Condo Investing Club™ discuss the data-driven reality of the Coral Gables condo selloff, where a double-digit drop in the price per square foot is signaling a potential market correction.

The report was based on research conducted for the planned Coral Gables Condo Correction Walking Tour™ scheduled for 10 am Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026.

The conversation explores how Coral Gables—traditionally seen as a stable, Mediterranean-style suburb—is showing signs of significant stress, with Overall and Vintage condo prices falling 12% and 11%, respectively, during the first half of the South Florida Winter Buying Season, according to a recent report.

During the 53-minute podcast, Huertas and Zalewski connect the local price drops to a broader national narrative, specifically referencing a breaking Bloomberg report regarding a spike in foreclosures among "hard money" lenders on Florida's Southwest coast.

This trend triggered a deep dive into the parallels between the current speculative “fix and flip” climate and the systemic failures depicted in the movie The Big Short, which chronicled the 2008 housing collapse driven by unregulated lending.

The hosts analyze how unregulated private financing has created a market without an FDIC backstop, potentially setting the stage for a “memorable” correction after about a 13-year run without a notable downturn.

Crucially, the hosts emphasize that this selloff is being accelerated by the post-Surfside legislative landscape and the Florida Condo Association Financial Cliff—a crisis Zalewski predicted back in June 2024.

The climbing cost of condo living—fueled by mandatory Structural Integrity Reserve Studies (SIRS) every 10 years, looming Milestone Inspections at a building’s 30-year anniversary and pricey insurance premiums—is no longer sustainable for many, effectively forcing longtime residents to head for the exits.

The episode serves as a warning for sellers who remain overconfident and a roadmap for buyers looking to capitalize on the widening spread between asking prices and transaction reality in Coral Gables.

This is copy of a live podcast recorded Fridays at 4 pm in Miami featuring real estate advisor Daniel Hernandez of Compass Real Estate and analyst Peter Zalewski of the Miami Condo Investing Club™.

Welcome to Buy, Sell, Hold Miami™ weekly podcast for a no-nonsense perspective on South Florida real estate from a pair of locals with differing opinions.

Each week, real estate advisor Daniel Hernandez of Compass Real Estate and longtime analyst Peter Zalewski of the Miami Condo Investing Club™ break down the housing market headlines, unpack policy changes and provide unfiltered analysis on everything from condo terminations to Vintage unit fire sales, luxury speculative homes to developer strategies.

Whether you are a homeowner, investor or real estate professional, Hernandez and Zalewski will give a local perspective on what is really happening across the tricounty South Florida region of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach with no fluff, no hype and plenty of data-backed opinions.

We call balls and strikes on when to buy, sell and hold.

Episode Topics

For the Feb. 6, 2026, podcast, Hernandez and Zalewski give their take on the following five topics:

1. Aston Martin Maintenance Issues

2. Miami Beach Walks Back Spring Break Austerity

3. Torose On A Tear

4. RFR Stabilizing Biscayne Boulevard

5. Bullish On 29th Street

This podcast is broadcast live at 4 pm (EST) on the social media accounts of Daniel Hernandez and Peter Zalewski.

Episode Overview

In this Feb. 6, 2026, episode of the Buy, Sell, Hold Miami™ podcast, Hernandez and Zalewski cut through the local rhetoric, delivering straight talk on five of the biggest topics of critical importance to South Florida investors.

The hosts discuss each topic and then announce whether each of them is a Buy, a Sell or a Hold on the issue. Their verdicts often differ, leading to sharp debate on the issue before moving on to the next topic.

During the 60-minute discussion, Hernandez and Zalewski analyze the shifting dynamics of the South Florida real estate market as it reaches the halfway point of the Winter Buying Season that stretches from November through April.

The Aston Martin Residences serves as a primary case study for the “rookie mistakes” of first-time developers who lock in pre-construction pricing only to be squeezed by post-COVID labor and construction cost spikes.

Hernandez points to a press report about a $5 million lawsuit filed by the condo association as a signal of systemic self-dealing, while Zalewski highlights that the building’s $1.70 per square foot maintenance fee is significantly higher than the county average.

The conversation shifts to Miami Beach and its attempt to rebrand as a health-focused Blue Zone to distance itself from spring break austerity measures.

Zalewski dismisses the move as the wrong marketing approach, citing the historical failure of the Canyon Ranch concept Carl Fisher’s experiences as cautionary tales for those ignoring Miami Beach’s identity as an adult entertainment destination.

The discussion then explores Toros Equities and its recent $28 million “gain” in one year by flipping a Coconut Grove office building originally acquired through foreclosure.

This “running and gunning” success is contrasted with a retail play on Lincoln Road, where the hosts argue that landlords must abandon luxury-only strategies and adopt an affordability model to reset after massive value drops.

A looming supply-demand crisis is identified in Greater Downtown Miami’s Central Business District submarket, where 4,300 new units are currently under construction on a base of just 10,200 existing condos.

Hernandez and Zalewski agree that as prices in this core peak and inventory swells, the affordability and physical barrier of the beach will likely spark a “reversal of fortunes” for savvy investors seeking Vintage condos at a 52% discount.

In this episode of Condo Capitalism™, real estate expert Jack McCabe of McCabeResearch.com discusses how differing price opinions make condo terminations difficult for troubled associations.

Condo Capitalism™ is a weekly podcast hosted by Peter Zalewski of the Miami Condo Investing Club™ that provides data-driven analysis on distressed real estate—foreclosures, shortsales and bank-owned REOs—in the tricounty South Florida region of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach.

The program tracks the Florida Condo Association Financial Cliff, where rising maintenance fees, special assessments and insurance costs are squeezing cash-strapped owners.

On the show, experts analyze how the national “two-sided risk”—rising inflation and falling employment—magnifies these local pressures, potentially forcing a capitulation by owners who can no longer afford condo living.

Join Peter Zalewski at MiamiCondo.Club for a livestream every weekday at 4 pm (Miami time). On-demand recordings of all shows are available here.

Episode Overview

In the Feb. 5, 2026, episode of the Condo Capitalism™ podcast, host Peter Zalewski interviews veteran real estate expert Jack McCabe of McCabeResearch.com regarding why bankruptcy court could become the primary venue for investors to acquire distressed condo associations that are unable to navigate the traditional termination process.

Zalewski cites what looks to be an emerging trend for this shift, pointing to a Delray Beach 55-and-older condo community facing $40 million in debt and the recent Chapter 11 filing of a mixed-use project in Boca Raton as evidence of what could be a mounting crisis.

McCabe explains that as insurance and reserve requirements skyrocket, many associations will find that filing for bankruptcy is the only viable path forward for buildings that can no longer meet their financial obligations.

A critical takeaway from the exchange is that the South Florida condo market has reached a financial stalemate where the cost of mandatory structural repairs and insurance has outpaced the valuation of many Vintage buildings, effectively forcing the market toward a new phase of bankruptcy filings.

The conversation added color regarding the 30-year Milestone Inspections and the Structural Integrity Reserve Studies (SIRS)—conducted every 10 years—which are acting as a financial “one-two punch” for associations.

While the Milestone Inspection identifies immediate, big-ticket repairs that often trigger a massive special assessment, the SIRS creates a strict savings plan that can permanently hike monthly maintenance fees.

This shift effectively ends the era of low monthly dues by forcing owners to catch up on years of neglected maintenance through a combination of lump-sum payments and higher monthly fees.

Zalewski said this environment creates a stalemate where individual owners often hold unrealistic price expectations, while McCabe predicts developers will pivot toward court-supervised auctions to bypass these holdouts and secure distressed assets.

Beyond the legal battlegrounds, the discussion delved into the stark reality of the 2026 South Florida Winter Buying Season.

Overall inventory levels in Greater Downtown Miami reached 20.1 months of supply while condo prices fell 7.2% per square foot on a Year-over-Year basis.