The experience is everything

WCI Communities was nearly left for dead when the homebuilding company filed for bankruptcy in 2008.

Many expected the company's land and speculative homes to be sold off. But creditors bet otherwise, and WCI emerged from bankruptcy with $450 million in debt in 2009.

Now, WCI is embarking on a mission that seemed unthinkable during the real estate bust: It is preparing to sell $150 million in stock and become a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange with the symbol WCIC.