Ross tells it straight, and it's not good

Anyone who expected Ross McIntosh to deliver some good news about real estate in Lee or Collier counties at a recent presentation was in for a rude surprise.

McIntosh, a well-connected Collier County land broker, gives unvarnished views of real estate at annual presentations that are well attended by investors, builders and developers.

In his most recent presentation, dubbed “Whodathunkit??” McIntosh enumerated the strikes against Lee and Collier. These include no end in sight for commercial and residential real estate foreclosures, the dim prospects for new towns such as Babcock Ranch (the new town of Ave Maria in eastern Collier County issued just 10 permits this year), the impending collapse of at least 50 Florida community banks and the fall of high-end real estate values.

“No community is immune,” McIntosh told the hushed gathering.

See you next year.