The Future Looks Good for Florida

Jobs, wages and real estate prices will keep climbing this year in South Florida, as will government, corporate and consumer spending, a global investment strategist said last month.

“Things are moving in the right direction, and the probabilities suggest that they’re going to continue to do so,” Richard Golod said.

Golod, director of global investment strategies for Invesco, spoke to about 250 members and guests of the Executives Association of Fort Lauderdale. He presented the keynote address at the business group’s annual economic forecast breakfast at the Marriott Harbor Beach Resort.

This winter’s spike in extreme weather in many parts of the country will likely affect investment markets in the short-term, Golod said. Overall, his outlook was optimistic, especially for U.S. markets, less so for European ones; he cautioned against investing in emerging markets.

Real estate will continue to be the biggest driver of South Florida’s economy, Golod said. He noted that 63 percent of South Florida’s single-family home sales in December were all-cash deals, mainly investments from European, Asian, South American and other international buyers.

© 2014 The Miami Herald, Evan S. Benn