Fort Lauderdale-based BankAtlantic Bancorp losses $48M in fourth quarter, judge tosses foreclosure suit without homeowner asking … and more

1. Six more regional banks shuttered by regulators [MarketWatch]
2. For condo buyers, when is the best time to put down a deposit? [NYT]
3. Fort Lauderdale-based BankAtlantic Bancorp loses $48M in fourth quarter [Sun Sentinel]

4. Florida judge tosses foreclosure suit without homeowner asking for the break [Post]
5. Should underwater homeowners be allowed to walk away from mortgages if Tishman Speyer can do it? [AP via MSNBC]
6. Existing home sales rise in 2009 as prices returned to comfortable levels [NYT]

7. Commercial real estate getting worse before it gets better [Miami Herald]
8. Miami leaders fear budget shortfall could force sale of key assets [Miami Herald]
9. Uptick in Florida home sales may be attributed to foreign buyers [Hope4HomeBuyers]
10. Apartment vacancies high in South Florida, less so in Miami-Dade [SFBJ]
11. Australian tourist notes how times have changed in Miami since 1993 [The Australian]
12. Broker drops $2.19M on condo at the Governor House in Coconut Grove [BlockShopper]
13. Missing Novack turns up in court to claim millions from mother’s Fontainebleau estate [NBC Miami]
14. Florida Community Bank fails [The News-Press]
15. Are luxury homes the best retirement investment? [Real Estate Magazine]
16. The case for investing in Miami real estate now [Daily World EU News]
17. Condo sales grow in Miami, at fire sale prices [Housing Predictor]
18. CREW-Miami launches commercial real estate education program with Florida International University [Florida Real Estate Journal]