Post in the Category Press
By Alexis
Posted in - Press on March 24th, 2011
Consumers apparently are becoming more optimistic about the housing market, a recent study shows. The third annual Cotton Report polled more than 800 participants on housing preferences, motivating factors, pricing levels and timelines for purchase. The survey included participants from 39 states, Canada, Europe and Latin America. While no direct correlation was made to the harsh temperatures of this winter, the research survey indicated a substantial increase in the number of homebuyers seeking a vacation home purchase, an increase of 800 percent year-over-year. There was also an increase in the number of buyers describing their transition as a geographic relocation, now 40 percent of respondents. Over the three-year period of the annual study, a continuous trend towards smaller homes has…
By Alexis
Posted in - Press on March 17th, 2011
After several years of negative trends in the real estate industry, a recent market study shows signs of increasing consumer confidence. The third annual Cotton Report polled more than 800 participants on housing preferences, motivating factors, pricing levels and timelines for purchase. The survey included participants from 39 states, as well as Canada, Europe and Latin America. While no direct correlation was made to the harsh winter temperatures, the research survey indicated a substantial increase in the number of homebuyers seeking a vacation home purchase, an increase of 800% year-over-year. This dynamic trend is further supported by an increase in the number of buyers describing their transition as a geographic relocation, now 40%. Over the three-year period of the annual…
By Alexis
Posted in - Press on March 1st, 2011
Nearly 400 guests, including some of South Florida’s most sophisticated and stylish residents recently attended a “Celebration of Luxury” in a location renowned for it- One Thousand Ocean. The developer of the new Atlantic Ocean-to-Intracoastal condominium in Boca Raton graciously welcomed partygoers who were initially greeted by the sight of a 2011 Ferrari California parked in front of the arrival court, compliments of Ferrari-Maserati of Fort Lauderdale. Guests were guided into the iconic, contemporary building where they then were swept by elevator to the largest of four recently released penthouses. There, sumptuous hor d’oevres and libations merged with live music and vocals, as statuesque fashion models in glittering gowns from Zola Keller glided across the exquisite interior spaces that total…
By Alexis
Posted in - Press on January 6th, 2011
Industry insight: Laurie Andrews talks lending Andrews is COO at Cotton & Company, a leading real estate sales and marketing firm that has represented more than 1,600 communities over the past 27 years. How has the current lending environment affected your clients’ ability to obtain financing? Development financing reached a standstill over the past several years with the capital markets frozen. Both domestic and international developers are undertaking a global approach. They now seek out international investment resources from stronger capital markets, including Asia and South America. With a glut of new-home inventory in the market, developers and investors have focused on buying up distressed properties rather than beginning new projects from raw land. What kinds of strategies are your…
By Alexis
Posted in - Press on November 30th, 2010
Outdoor patios with full kitchens are getting even huger these days, with some nearing 10,000 square feet, said Stephann Cotton, owner of the real-estate sales and marketing firm Cotton & Co. They’ve got the Rolls Royce of grills, outdoor wine fridges, fireplaces, sweeping views — you name it. But guess what else they’ve got? Bugs. Cotton said his high-end clients with penthouses in Boca Raton, Fla., are increasingly asking for these glass structures, out at the end of the patio where the best views are. They’re turning them into everything from outdoor dining areas and zen gardens to man caves and music studios. A four-sided glass structure means there aren’t just northern views or southern views, Cotton says, there are…
By Alexis
Posted in - Press on October 26th, 2010
Urban Land Institute member and Florida CEO, Stephann Cotton was on hand for one of the largest gatherings of economists, land planners and real estate developers in North America earlier this month, in Washington, DC. According to Cotton, the next real estate cycle will be at least a ten-year rebound, as the market picks up—yet anyone in real estate right now needs to be patient, stabilization will be slow and steady. “Florida’s real estate recovery will definitely be fueled by international investors, with South America and Canada leading the way—the trophy properties, the A-list oceanfront properties are recovering the quickest,” explained Mr. Cotton, CEO of the real estate sales and marketing firm Cotton & Company. “Economists at ULI’s fall meeting…
By Alexis
Posted in - Press on September 28th, 2010
When a recent cover story in Time magazine stated, “owning a home may no longer make economic sense,” the Wall Street Journal soon responded with a story explaining why home ownership is a good thing. Mixed messages and conflicting perspectives on the business of real estate—for consumers, developers and builders—keep many in a state of uncertainty about market recovery and what happens next. Cotton & Company, the international real estate sales and marketing firm based in Florida, sees their clients profiting from the market right now. “Buyers just closed on 25 residences at a Boca Raton project we’re working with, One Thousand Ocean—and more that 50 residences have been sold over the past six months at West Bay Beach &…
By Alexis
Posted in - Press on September 27th, 2010
You can’t go wrong sending over tasty snacks for your client’s staff. Jared Gutstadt, CEO of Jingle Punks, a music licensing company, sends pizza at random on many Friday afternoons. Laurie Andrews, chief operating officer at public relations firm Cotton & Co., sends an ice cream truck during the summer months. “It’s a feel-good moment that people remember and talk about,” she says. Click here to view original article
By Alexis
Posted in - Press on September 26th, 2010
Walter R. Franklin, 63, director of interactive services at the Cotton & Co. ad agency in Stuart, sits in front of a 27-inch iMac monitor 10 hours a day. His iPhone is a lifeline for the other 14 hours. He disconnects on Saturday mornings by learning the intricacies of fly rod casting on Hutchinson Island in Martin County. Franklin says the focus is on muscle control and movement rather than on intellectual acumen. “A sense of competition against oneself evolves as the number of successful casts increases. Going from one successful cast out of 20 to one out of 10 provides a feeling of accomplishment.” Setting Parameters Recently back home after taking the red eye from Las Vegas, Cheryl Whitman,…
By Alexis
Posted in - Press on May 3rd, 2010
Partnerships between education and business communities are critical to the success of America’s youth in the 21st century job market. The U.S. Department of Labor has identified two careers projected to grow more than 20 percent by 2016, not only on the Treasure Coast but also in Florida. To address the growth of these technological careers, Jensen Beach, Martin County, and South Fork high schools have partnered with local businesses to provide students with the requisite knowledge, skills — and industry certifications — employers demand. Career and Professional Education Act In 2007, the Florida Legislature passed the CAPE Act as a statewide planning partnership between business and education communities to attract, expand, and retain targeted, high-value industry and to sustain…
