In its quarterly assessment of U.S. property markets, Moody's ranked the Miami metropolitan area seventh in the country. Los Angeles and New York City were ranked first and second. The Fort Lauderdale area ranked 30th out of more than 60 markets.

''Miami has been such a sought after market by the investment communities for the past three years and it will only continue,'' said Peter Harrison, senior vice president at Transwestern Commercial Services in Miami. ``Institutional asset managers want to be here.''

The report concluded that across the country consumer-driven property sectors like rental apartments and shopping centers showed the most strength.

The Moody's report, called the Red-Yellow-Green report, assesses income-producing real estate properties in seven categories, including retail, office and industrial properties. It also evaluates hotel properties and rental apartments.

The Moody's report doesn't evaluate the single-family home or condominium markets, which some worry have climbed so sharply in price they may stumble. The survey is monitored by investors that may, for instance, buy an office building and lease it to tenants.

Patricia McDonnell, vice president and senior analyst at Moody's, said it makes its determinations by assessing supply and demand indicators, among other factors, in each sector.

The best indicator given is a green label, meaning the outlook is positive; middle of the road gets yellow; and red means that a market is under stress or expected to become so.

In the survey, Miami earned green ratings in six of the seven categories for the second quarter of 2005. The one category given a yellow rating was the hotel full-service sector.

McDonnell said there are questions ``if there will be enough demand to meet supply.''

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