Mattingly and her team recently represented the buyer and the seller of The Gallery of Amazing Things, an event center and banquet hall. The buyer is Marc Aptakin, of MAD Studios, a marketing, branding and event company based in Fort Lauderdale. Aptakin, who paid $9.75 million for the property, intends to use the property as his company's headquarters.

"The proximity to everything is what interested us when we first took a look at this property," Mattingly says.

The recent opening of the Le Meridien Hotel in Dania Beach is another example the city is poised for growth she says. There is also potential for a lot of multifamily developments. A major driver is Dania Pointe, a 102-acre mixed-use development.

Mattingly says the influx of people to Dania Pointe, particularly millennials is mostly regional. She suggests some are fleeing from crowded Miami.

The COVID-19 pandemic hasn't significantly affected Dania Beach development to this point, Mattingly says. It had no effect on The Gallery of Amazing Things deal.

"The purchaser was fully aware of the situation and he was very bullish. Events are being booked months ahead of time. They know the light will be at the end of the tunnel at some point and I think people are bullish on that."