Cuomo taps Appleyard for expertise

By MARY EVERTZ

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 4, 2000

When U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo started a pilot project in housing finance to help China establish a secondary mortgage market, he sought advice from some of this country's top experts.

Cuomo's program, which is being developed by HUD and the Chinese Ministry of Construction, is using American know-how to help some Chinese become homeowners.

On May 21, Cuomo was in Shanghai for the meeting of the U.S.-China Colloquium on Housing Finance at the Grand Hyatt. He was accompanied byCarla Koppell, deputy assistant secretary for international affairs; Gary Eisenman, deputy assistant secretary for HUD/FHA; and Robert Daley, a consultant to Koppell.

"The application of this program will be a historic step for the Chinese," said Cuomo. Hosting the session with Cuomo were Yu Zhengsheng, minister of construction, and Xu Kuangdi, mayor of Shanghai. The forum was sponsored by the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. in Shanghai.

Among the Americans invited to participate was St. Petersburg native and University of Florida grad Randy Appleyard. Appleyard, 39, lives in New York City, where he operates AGS Financial.

AGS Financial is a global firm offering a range of services to the mortgage and asset finance markets. Appleyard, in his role at AGS, is a frequent speaker and conference presenter on topics relating to international mortgage and asset finance. He gave a 45-minute talk and slide presentation during the forum.

HUD and the ministry have targeted the end of the year for the launch of the pilot project.

Versace manse a spa?

Word is the palatial South Beach villa of the late designer Gianni Versace may be turned into a luxury spa. Telecom tycoon and new owner Peter Loftin, who paid a record-breaking $23-million for the 12-bedroom, 13-bath palazzo, is reported to be in Paris scouting the spa scene.

When Loftin's purchase was announced two weeks ago, he indicated he would live in the villa and dock his 138-foot yacht nearby. "This is a living home," he said. "I knew it was a once in a lifetime opportunity."

Speculation is that Loftin, 43 and divorced, may live in "Casa Casuarina" when in Miami Beach. "There's plenty of room for a spa and a private suite," noted a Loftin insider.

The asking price for the mansion was $25-million. Versace's family put the place on the market last August. The 13,250 square-foot Mediterranean-style home, across the street from the Atlantic Ocean, is the only residence on a stretch of Ocean Drive that is mostly home to bars, fashionable restaurants and hotels.

Loftin's $23-million bid surpassed the record paid for estates in the Miami-Dade and Broward counties. The previous record was set last December when actor Sylvester Stallone's mansion was sold for $16.2-million.

She's a special agent

Conde Nast Traveler has selected its new "Travel Gurus" -- 70 experts who find deals and then deliver the dreams.

One of the "secret agents" they've selected is Rebecca Falkenberry of Destination Adventure, Hill's Travel Service Inc. in St. Petersburg. A former Sierra Club vice president and professor of environmental studies, "Falkenberry knows the best places and companies for nature and wildlife," says Traveler.

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