When Preparation Meets Opportunity: A Property in the Path of Progress

Fischler Property Co. Successfully Closes Major Commercial Property Deal in 60 Days

FORT MYERS, Fla. – As the commercial real estate market in Southwest Florida continues to evolve, it is also rich in unpredictability. The idea of successfully closing a land deal in under three months sounds implausible and, frankly, intimidating. However, through long-cultivated relationships and deep market expertise, Fischler Property Company (FPC) shepherded a fair trade-off for both the seller and the buyer in the decisive execution of a rapid deal. A deal that went from contract to close in an astounding 61 days, surpassing the client’s stringent deadline to sell a prominent parcel. 

For an extended period, the owners of 14861 Sauer Park Road in South Fort Myers had no intention of selling. However, estate planning issues emerged in the last couple of years, prompting an immediate need to sell. They reached out to FPC in late September with a critical goal: close the deal before year-end, leaving a mere 90 days to complete the transaction. 

“To sell a piece of property like this, that is greenlighted all the way, with no environmental, easement, or encroachment issues, on average, it probably takes six to eight months,” FPC agent Michael Curran explained. 

However, the FPC team anticipated the property’s potential for development and understood the cruciality of cultivating a connection with the owner during that time, long before a needle-in-the-haystack type of search like this arose. 

For over half a decade, FPC sourced the 36+ acre property strategically situated off the prime intersection of U.S. 41 and Six Mile Cypress Parkway.  

“We always knew it would be prime for development. We always knew eventually it would become something else,” Curran said. “It was a property in the path of progress.” 

In a challenging financial and commercial market, FPC also understood that developers do not lend to impulsivity, and such sales rarely conclude swiftly. 

To meet the seller's need for speed, developers needed a compelling benefit to take the risk of an expedited process that compressed six months of due diligence into just 60 days. 

Navigating the complexity of this case, FPC engaged with 20-30 developers, providing a comprehensive overview of the property, submarket insights, government permitting details, and development potential, creating a unique value proposition. 

FPC utilized its in-depth understanding of commercial real estate trends, coupled with valuable data insights, to provide enough information to potential developers, enabling them to determine the viability of the decision. 

While many expressed interest, most couldn't commit to the process that fast, narrowing down the nearly 20 potentials to only a few after the initial phone calls. 

Although there is usually a trade-off in situations like this, both parties ultimately won. The property seller closed within the specified timeframe, and the buyer secured a prominent property at a reasonable price. 

Some might attribute this success to luck. While it may appear as such, luck had little to do with this sale. The years of pre-work and every minute during the contract period counted in this transaction.  

“We were prepared, and we created the opportunity because we pursued the property for six years,” Curran said. “When the opportunity presented itself, we were prepared to deliver the right buyer.” 

The successful sale of this Southwest Florida property exemplifies the delicate dance between preparation and opportunity. FPC's attentive dedication, market knowledge, and timely engagement resulted in a rapid and discreet transaction, showcasing its expertise in the ever-evolving real estate landscape.