GlobeSt.com caught up with Arnstein & Lehr attorney Charles Brecker, a member of the firm's Commercial & Real Estate Finance Transactions and Real Estate Practice Groups, to get his take on what happens next in part two of this exclusive interview. You can still read part one: How Lennar's WCI Grab Impacts South Florida Market.

“As a result of this deal, I expect Lennar to be a much more active builder of residential and mixed-use high-rise projects, always the benchmark of WCI's best practices,” Brecker tells GlobeSt.com. “Historically, Lennar has opted for horizontal developments, so this added niche should perfectly fit its agenda in broadening its development capabilities, similar to it having rolled out a commercial division a few years ago.

How will this acquisition impact Lennar? Time will tell, of course, but Brecker has a strong opinion.

“Presuming Lennar did not overpay for the assets it acquired, this is an excellent acquisition that should further cement Lennar as the preeminent residential builder/developer in the country,” Brecker says. “It should prove to be one of its best acquisitions for a company that continues to out-perform its competition.”

MIAMI—Lennar agreed to buy WCI Communities in September for a whopping $643 million. WCI will ultimately become a newly-formed Lennar subsidiary.

The transaction combines two of the largest homebuilders in Florida. For the past 60 years, WCI has developed master planned communities catering to move-up, active adult and second-home buyers. In the latest 12 months ended June 30, 2016, WCI delivered 1,118 homes with an average sales price of $444,000.

With the buy, Lennar gets a portfolio of owned and controlled land totaling 14,200 home sites. Most of the sites are located in the highest growth and largest coastal Florida markets.

“WCI's land portfolio dovetails perfectly with our own Florida footprint and expands our product offering to capture more of the move-up market,” Stuart Miller, CEO of Lennar, said when the company made the announcement. “Our combined presence in the premier coastal Florida markets will drive growth and allow significant cross and dual brand marketing opportunities.”

GlobeSt.com caught up with Arnstein & Lehr attorney Charles Brecker, a member of the firm's Commercial & Real Estate Finance Transactions and Real Estate Practice Groups, to get his take on what happens next in part two of this exclusive interview. You can still read part one: How Lennar's WCI Grab Impacts South Florida Market.

“As a result of this deal, I expect Lennar to be a much more active builder of residential and mixed-use high-rise projects, always the benchmark of WCI's best practices,” Brecker tells GlobeSt.com. “Historically, Lennar has opted for horizontal developments, so this added niche should perfectly fit its agenda in broadening its development capabilities, similar to it having rolled out a commercial division a few years ago.

How will this acquisition impact Lennar? Time will tell, of course, but Brecker has a strong opinion.

“Presuming Lennar did not overpay for the assets it acquired, this is an excellent acquisition that should further cement Lennar as the preeminent residential builder/developer in the country,” Brecker says. “It should prove to be one of its best acquisitions for a company that continues to out-perform its competition.”