Why Miami's buzzy Little River is attracting savvy property investors
Don't be fooled by its name or dodgy reputation: Miami's Little River has big potential and is currently benefiting from major buzz.
Little River is one of the city's oldest neighborhoods. Due to its location along the pint-sized waterway that flows into nearby Biscayne Bay, it was one of the first places in Florida settled by indigenous tribes. From a bird's-eye view, it looks like a 1.25-square-mile industrial eyesore. But on the ground? It's starting to look like it could be the next Wynwood.
'With easy access to the city's main arteries, it's a neighborhood that blends the best of Miami's eclectic culture,' said Dan Schor, a partner at AJ Capital Partners, a Nashville-based real estate investment firm that is the area's primary developer. 'Over the next several years, we plan to develop a variety of multi-family apartment projects, all designed to bring a human scale to Little River while preserving the neighborhood's character.'
Expect, he said, garden-style residences and townhouses, as well as low- and mid-rise apartment buildings.
Currently, most Little River listings are fixer-uppers. They range from a 500-square-foot condo — listed for $148,000 — cocooned in a chain-link fence with razor wire at the top to a 6,534 square-foot riverfront vacant lot — asking $1.6 million — in desperate need of a date with a landscaper. Still, Ramona Bautista, a local realtor with the Keyes Company, recently sold two listings in Little River.
'The neighborhood is evolving quickly, providing both buyers and investors with the opportunity to be part of its transformation,' she said.
Nickel M. Goeseke, a local agent representing a $12.9 million waterfront mansion in neighboring Belle Meade, is optimistic. 'Little River is just getting started,' he said, 'and will continue to improve as more and more people move and visit the area.'
So far, Little River's biggest draw is dinner.
'The hardest reservation in Miami to get is now Sunny's Steakhouse,' Goeseke said.
Just across the railroad tracks, foodies find Michelin-rated Ogawa, a 10-seat sushi bar boasting the highest ratings of all one-star Michelin restaurants in the US. More destination eateries are on their way including a 9,000-square-foot Fooq's.
'I thought this was a real opportunity to create an amazing destination dining venue with a great nightlife component in a neighborhood that was desperately needing it,' Fooq's owner David Foulquir said.
Still, even he isn't quite sold on living in the area quite yet — he's shopping in El Portal, Little River's neighbor to the north. Steve Santana, chef and partner of Off Site nano-brewery and kitchen, agreed.
'I would actually be surprised if you found someone who lives here because it's still very up and coming,' Santana said. 'A lot of growth and development on the way, but currently, it's still a bit rough around the edges, if you know what I mean.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
13 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Unifor members at DHL Express Canada locked out after refusing to accept concessions
TORONTO, June 8, 2025 /CNW/ - Unifor members at DHL Express Canada were locked out by their employer after midnight on June 8, after the workers refused to accept concessions put forth by the company. 'We will not stand by while DHL locks out our members across the country and threatens to use scabs in an attempt to pressure our members to take concessions. Our members deserve respect and a fair contract,' said Unifor National President Lana Payne. 'We expect DHL to abide by the law on the books, passed unanimously by Parliament, which will come fully into force later this month. A law that bans the use of replacement works in a legal dispute. It is reprehensible that this company thinks they can bust our members' right to fair and free collective bargaining by using scab labour.' Some concessions the company is pushing include change driver pay system resulting in a loss of money, driving 100 km. to get to their routes or pick up their freight with no compensation. Other concessions involve proposing language that will allow the company to refuse accommodation, laying off employees, and proposing reducing drivers' daily guarantee. The company has also rerouted pickups across the whole country while reducing pay for owner operators. Hours before the deadline, the employer added numerous new proposals and concessions. The union's bargaining priorities remain improving working conditions—including access to clean and secure washrooms—securing fair wages, addressing surveillance and automation issues and recognition and respect for workers. The company filed its intention to lock out workers on June 4 – four days before the deadline to reach an agreement. 'By imposing a lockout, DHL is choosing confrontation over negotiation,' said Unifor Quebec Director Daniel Cloutier. 'This is a serious decision that deprives dedicated workers of their livelihoods. But let's be clear: our members will not be intimidated. They are united, standing strong, and determined to obtain the respect and working conditions they deserve.' Unifor DHL members voted 97% for strike action if necessary last month. Unifor represents over 2,100 DHL Express Canada workers who as truck drivers, couriers, warehouse and clerical workers across Canada, at Locals 114 in British Columbia, 700 in Quebec, 755 in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, 4005 in Nova Scotia, 4457 in Ontario and members in DHL Alberta. Unifor's legal department sent a letter to DHL, cautioning them of hiring scabs –– as anti-scab legislation, which the union campaigned diligently for, is set to come in on June 20. The union firmly believes the timing of the lockout notice is tied to the incoming legislation. The German-based parcel delivery giant's annual profit is roughly $3.3 billion Euro ($4.6 billion CDN) and revenue from its significant and growing North American enterprise is worth approximately ($9.4 billion CDN). And yet, the employer is demanding changes and concessions to working conditions that will negatively affect the pay of Unifor DHL members. Customers in Canada will likely be affected if they use other couriers, including UPS and Loomis, because of integrated contracts with other freight companies. DHL Express Canada has 50,000 customers, including Temu, SHEIN, Lululemon and Siemens Canada. The labour dispute could also potentially cause major disruptions to the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, June 13 to 15, due to DHL's responsibility for transporting Formula One vehicles. Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing 320,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future. SOURCE Unifor
Forbes
28 minutes ago
- Forbes
How To Lock In Yields Up To 17.1% In Historically Cheap Small Caps
Small-cap stocks haven't been this cheap in decades. This valuation advantage gets interesting when we add big fat dividends and today, we'll discuss five cheap small caps yielding between 8.3% and 17.1%. (That's no typo by the way—we only talk serious dividends here at Contrarian Outlook!) The Apples, Google and Microsofts of the world are priced like luxury goods. Smaller stocks, meanwhile, have been left at the discount rack. Let's shop: The valuation spread between the S&P 500 and S&P 600 hasn't been this wide since Bill Clinton was wondering whether dot-com was one word or two. Is a bust to follow again or are these big yields from small stocks really spectacular deals? Let's explore. Israel-based Platytika Holding (PLTK) is a gamemaker that primarily makes casino-themed titles for countries on just about every continent. Here in the U.S., Playtika's best-known titles include Bingo Blitz, Redecor and Domino Dreams. Playtika has done quite a bit of building by acquisition, purchasing Seriously, Youda Games, Innplay Labs and, most recently, SuperPlay, among others. (It tried to buy Angry Birds maker Rovio in 2023, but the deal eventually fell apart.) Playtika hasn't been a dividend stock for very long—it initiated its dividend program in late February 2024. About a year ago, when I examined PLTK among other 'inaugural dividends,' I mentioned its 10-cent-quarterly dividend translated into a nice 5% yield, but also more than 60% of the company's estimated earnings for 2024. By the time all was said and done, it ended up being closer to 70% of adjusted profits for last year. Fast-forward to today: PLTK hasn't raised its payout, but it now yields north of 8%. This is the 'wrong way' to raise a dividend. PLTK Total Returns Ycharts As I said in my previous writeup, the mobile game market is brutal, especially among the 'free to play' titles that Playtika specializes in. PLTK had been suffering from years of profit declines and flat sales, and sure enough, 2024 saw another drop in earnings and a modest decline in sales. And yet … the few pros who cover the stock are quite bullish about what comes next. While revenue growth estimates for the next two years aren't much to scream over, they're looking for a 32% jump in profits this year, and a respectable 23% improvement in 2026. Meanwhile, PLTK's woeful performance has driven the dividend higher and its valuation down to a dirt-cheap 6 times forward earnings. Still, Playtika is asking for a lot of faith in its growth prospects while (so far) providing very little evidence. Carlyle Secured Lending (CGBD) is a business development company (BDC) that's externally managed by a subsidiary of multinational asset manager Carlyle Group (CG). CGBD invests primarily in U.S. middle market companies with between $25 million and $100 million in annual EBITDA. And it predominantly deals in first-lien debt (83%), though it has single-digit exposure to second-lien debt, equity investments and even investment funds. Its 138 portfolio companies cover a couple dozen industries, including healthcare/pharmaceuticals, software, consumer services, and business services. Carlyle Secured Lending came public in 2017. And as we neared the end of 2024, I noted that shares had and spent most of their time putting up downright excellent returns. Things have changed—drastically!—since then. CGBD Total Returns Ycharts What went wrong? Two earnings reports have revealed some growing cracks in Carlyle's armor. In February, profits came in below estimates, thanks largely to a markdown on hotel management company Aimbridge Hospitality. It also doubled the number of companies on non-accrual (loans that are delinquent for a prolonged period, usually 90 days), from two to four. In May, the company reported disappointing earnings again, and an additional company went on non-accrual, bringing non-accruals up to 1.6% of the total portfolio at fair value. More importantly, the company announced it would only pay a base dividend of 40 cents per share. That's problematic for two reasons: Based on net investment income (NII) estimates for the rest of the year, dividend coverage could be tight; it's possible the company might need to rely on 'spillover' income to cover the payout for at least a quarter or two. CGBD is just a couple months removed from a potentially beneficial merger with another BDC, Carlyle Secured Lending III; even without any more specials, its base dividend translates into an 11%-plus yield; and shares now trade at a nice 16% discount to net asset value (NAV). But I'd like to see signs that CGBD is correcting its recent operational slide. Bain Capital Specialty Finance (BCSF) is a diversified BDC that provides a variety of financing solutions to 175 portfolio companies primarily in North America, but also Europe and Australia (a rarity for many BDCs). The lion's share of Bain Capital's investments are first-lien in nature—in addition to 64% exposure directly through portfolio companies, it also has almost 16% more through its investment vehicles. It also deals in equity and preferred equity interest, as well as second-lien and subordinated debt. Unlike CGBD, Bain Capital hasn't exactly lit the industry on fire, but it has caught its stride over the past couple of years. Other reasons to like it? A low cost of debt, a higher-than-average portfolio yield (made even better by its joint ventures), investment-grade debt and an 11% discount to NAV. However I'm nervous about its dividend situation. Dividend coverage has been a strength for the past couple of years, but that could be changing. In 2024, Bain Capital stopped a short streak of dividend hikes and kept its 42-cent regular dividend in place. It instead began paying 3-cent quarterly special dividends, which it has kept up with ever since. That 45 cents quarterly comes out to $1.80 per share in annual dividends. However, analysts expect net investment income to drop from $2.09 per share in 2024 to $1.84 per share this year and $1.82 per share in 2026. That means dividend ratios in the 98%-99% range, which leaves almost no room for error. If BCSF does run into difficulty over the next couple of years, we could see the special dividends reduced or taken away outright—certainly a better look than having to cut a regular dividend, but the practical end result is still less income, even if temporarily. On the other hand, the base-and-special system gives BCSF room to reward us more if Wall Street's expectations prove overly pessimistic. Let's move to another high-yield corner of the market: mortgage real estate investment trusts (mREITs). For the unfamiliar: The typical REIT deals in physical properties—apartments, strip malls, hospitals, casinos. But mortgage REITs deal in 'paper' real estate. They borrow at low short-term rates, lend that cash out in the form of mortgages based on long-term rates, then pocket the difference. If 'long' rates (like those on the 10-year Treasury) are steady or, better yet, declining, that's great news for mREITs. New loans pay less, so their existing loans become more valuable. That's been a mixed bag for mREITs in 2025, which enjoyed declining rates for the first couple months of the year, but have been suffering from a rebound ever since. First up is Two Harbors Investment (TWO), which deals in mortgage servicing rights (MSRs), agency residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBSs) and other financial assets. It also owns an operational platform, RoundPoint Mortgage Servicing LLC, and it has a direct-to-consumer originations business that's still in its early innings. Whenever we see a yield near 20%, it's almost always caused by a sharp decline in share prices. That's very much the case with Two Harbors, whose shares traded in the $60s before collapsing during COVID, only mildly rebounded, then deteriorated ever since to current prices around $10 per share. That action pretty accurately reflected a miserable operating picture: TWO Dividend Ycharts Still, we're talking about a 17%-plus yield. If there's any sort of redeeming value, it's worth looking into. Well, Two Harbors has been working on lowering its debt-to-equity ratio, the company's book value ticked up in the most recent quarter, and it trades at a low 70% of that (still relatively decimated) book value. But all of those positive bullet points have been canceled out by an 8-K filed near the end of May. Two Harbors announced it was taking a $198.9 million charge related to litigation dating back to 2020 against PRCM Advisers, its former external manager. That comes out to roughly $1.90 per share, or 13% of TWO's last reported book value of $14.66 per share. The potential danger is that this significant hit to book value could impact earnings available for distribution (EAD), putting its current dividend rate of 45 cents per share at risk. While the company doesn't report earnings until July, TWO typically announces its dividends in the middle of the month prior to the month in which it reports—so, in this case, we might know by sometime in mid-June. Too much dividend drama. Take Franklin BSP Realty Trust (FBRT), a mortgage REIT dealing in commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBSs). Multifamily is king here, at more than 70% of the portfolio, but FBRT is happy to take on just about any type of commercial property—it also holds loans in hospitality, industrial, office, retail and other sectors. Virtually all of its portfolio is senior debt, and nearly 90% of that is floating-rate in nature. Collateralized loan obligations are the bulk of its financing sources at a hair over 80%, but Franklin BSP Realty Trust also has 11% exposure to warehouse lending (credit lines extended by banks to originate mortgages), 5% to repurchase agreements (repo), and sprinklings of unsecured debt and asset-specific financing. FBRT shares are down by double digits year-to-date, but now trade at an attractive 28% discount to book and a P/E of around 7 based on 2026 earnings estimates, which is pretty low among mREITs. And there are reasons for optimism—chiefly, the looming July close on the acquisition of NewPoint Holdings JV LLC. The deal to absorb this privately held commercial real estate finance company could set Franklin apart from other commercial mREITs. Again, though, the dividend situation is perhaps shakier than many of us would want. For one, the payout hasn't budged since the company started trading in 2021. Also problematic—real-estate owned (basically, foreclosures) and short-term non-market financing have been dragging on earnings. On the most recent conference call, CFO Jerome Baglien said, 'While we believe in the long-term earning power of the company to cover the dividend, if REO sales slow or volatile market conditions persist, it could be prudent to revisit our dividend in the short term.' There is a little good news: If earnings expectations stay on track, on the other side of FBRT's short-term drag is a path to more solid dividend coverage longer-term. Brett Owens is Chief Investment Strategist for Contrarian Outlook. For more great income ideas, get your free copy his latest special report: How to Live off Huge Monthly Dividends (up to 8.7%) — Practically Forever. Disclosure: none
Time Business News
2 hours ago
- Time Business News
The Financial Backbone of Startups: Why Austin Entrepreneurs Need Professional CPA and CFO Support
Austin, Texas, continues to attract some of the most innovative minds and fastest-growing startups in the country. From tech ventures to local service-based businesses, the entrepreneurial spirit is thriving. Yet for all the excitement and energy, one challenge keeps tripping up promising ventures: financial mismanagement. Many entrepreneurs focus on product development, customer acquisition, and branding—leaving accounting, forecasting, and compliance as afterthoughts. But in a city where competition is fierce and investors are selective, overlooking your financial health can cost you growth—or even your business. The startup journey often comes with: Inconsistent revenue Unclear cash flow Poorly tracked expenses Tax surprises Missed funding opportunities Founders are typically visionaries, not financial experts. As a result, many operate their businesses using spreadsheets, gut instincts, or outdated accounting software. These approaches might work in the first few months—but not when you're scaling, hiring, or seeking capital. Before you bring in CFO-level leadership or consult with CPA firms, your first step should be hiring a small business accountant in Austin. Bookkeeping : Maintain organized and accurate records of all transactions. : Maintain organized and accurate records of all transactions. Payroll : Process employee payments and ensure tax withholdings are accurate. : Process employee payments and ensure tax withholdings are accurate. Monthly Statements : Help you understand profits, losses, and where your money goes. : Help you understand profits, losses, and where your money goes. Quarterly Taxes: Keep your business compliant and avoid IRS penalties. Because they're local, an Austin-based accountant understands Texas tax rules, franchise tax obligations, and local filing deadlines better than a remote service. Bonus: Many small business accountants now use cloud-based software, giving you 24/7 visibility into your finances and eliminating guesswork. Once you're generating consistent revenue or considering scaling, a small business accountant might not be enough. This is where CFO service in Austin TX comes in. A Chief Financial Officer (CFO) isn't just a number cruncher. They're a financial strategist who provides leadership on: Cash flow forecasting Financial modeling and budgeting Investor readiness Loan or funding management Expense optimization KPI tracking and performance evaluation By hiring outsourced CFO services in Austin, startups get executive-level financial support without paying full-time executive salaries. It's a powerful way to gain expert insight while staying lean. Here are some real-world examples of how CFO support makes a difference: A CFO helps you assess whether you can truly afford to expand your team or open a new office—or if waiting 6 months would save you from cash flow trouble. Without knowing your margins, it's easy to undercharge. A CFO will analyze your costs and recommend a sustainable pricing structure. If your books are messy, or your pitch deck lacks solid financials, investors will walk away. A CFO ensures you're always 'investor-ready.' By working closely with your accountant and eventually a CPA firm, a CFO keeps you organized year-round so you're not scrambling when April rolls around. Austin isn't just any city—it's a tech hub, creative powerhouse, and magnet for venture capital. When you partner with local financial professionals, you gain access to: Regional insights on Texas tax law and local compliance. on Texas tax law and local compliance. Networks that include bankers, investors, and startup mentors. that include bankers, investors, and startup mentors. Personalized service from people who understand your business context. Unlike generic national services, local financial professionals understand the Austin startup scene and can offer advice grounded in real-world experience. As your startup matures, your needs will expand beyond bookkeeping and strategy. You'll require compliance, audit prep, advanced tax strategy, and possibly even exit planning. That's where CPA firms in Austin play a critical role. Tax filing and planning (local, state, federal) (local, state, federal) Audit preparation and representation Business incorporation advice Entity restructuring for tax savings Compliance with industry-specific regulations Valuation support for mergers or acquisitions CPA firms don't just look backward at your finances—they help you plan for future moves and long-term goals. Stage of Business Financial Support Needed Pre-launch/Prototype Small business accountant Post-revenue (>$100K) Add CFO service Austin TX Scaling (>$500K+) Add CPA firms in Austin Hiring early doesn't mean overextending—it means preparing for growth from day one. Today's financial experts—especially in tech-forward Austin—rely on digital tools to streamline operations. From cloud-based bookkeeping to real-time dashboards, the best financial partners will integrate with your systems like: QuickBooks Online Xero Gusto (for payroll) Expensify Fathom or Spotlight for reporting By leveraging these platforms, you get real-time financial visibility that informs better business decisions. Whether you're considering a small business accountant, CFO service, or CPA firm, ask: What industries do you specialize in? Do you understand the startup and venture-backed landscape? How do you communicate and deliver reports? What's your fee structure? Do you offer scalable services as we grow? Can you collaborate with our other partners (legal, banking, etc.)? Your financial team should feel like an extension of your startup—not just a service provider. Building a startup is hard enough. Don't let poor financial decisions be the reason you fail. By working with a reliable small business accountant in Austin, engaging strategic CFO service in Austin TX, and eventually partnering with experienced CPA firms in Austin, you're putting the right financial backbone in place to support your growth, funding goals, and long-term success. Whether you're preparing for your next funding round, trying to control runaway costs, or aiming for a clean exit—having trusted financial leadership will guide every decision with clarity and confidence. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
