(Crystal Proenza is associate editor of Real EstateFlorida.)

MIAMI BEACH, FL-Now is the time to get serious about purchasingland, urged panelists at an event held by the ColliersInternational land advisory practice group on Sept. 26. Speakershelped an audience of brokers from around the country see a brightside in the snowballing downturn by discussing funds activelylooking for land deals, with advice about how to get those dealsdone from the perspective of developers, bankers and attorneys. Thesession was part of a three-day 2008 Colliers InternationalConference held at the Loews Hotel in Miami Beach.

"Land is really local, but in today's world, especially withlarge portfolios being taken back by banks, we're finding there areopportunities outside of our local markets," said Mark Dolemba,senior vice president of Colliers B&K in Rosemont, IL. Each ofthe speakers representing land acquisition funds from around thecountry agreed, making clear that they were actively searching fordeals to get a jump on the next up cycle.