100 years ago, there was a town. Commerce was going well and everything was normal until one Monday during September someone new in the city appeared at the central square and announced: “Whoever brings me one coat, I will pay him with 1 golden coin”. That time a coat’s price was maximum the equivalent of 0,1 golden coin”. People were confused, but some of them returned soon with a coat. They were curious to see what will happen. The unknown man paid them, 1 golden coin for each coat. The whole town started discussing about this. 50 coats were sold… (weekly investment: 50 golden coins) “2 golden [...]

Part 3 of the post: “100 suits, 100 pairs of shoes and “3.000.000 Euro” = 102.000 Euro lost…” (to read part 1 please press here) (to read part 2 please press here) “If you could pay all these for me, I would also love you” My “teacher” was clear: “He is not a professional, he doesn’t know”. The “old guy” and the “Greek smecher” confirmed: “Yes, he was a weak, pathetic crook. He didn’t have answers to all the justified questions we asked him”. I didn’t participate in the discussion. I tried to leave but I was asked to stay. A new lecture was on the way… “You know, women do love me. They really [...]

Part 2 of the post: “100 suits, 100 pairs of shoes and “3.000.000 Euro” = 102.000 Euro lost…” The “hot” 1977, the year of Thessaloniki’s earth quake My “teacher” asked me to go for a walk, in order for him to discuss with his respectable friends. While waiting for them, I found another 2 offers in the area. In about 15 minutes he called me back. “Look, young boy, it is ok… it is ok… it is ok! I know that it is not easy for you to find good offers, but at least you try” (my “teacher” was generous with me). “So I will grand an audience to this owner and I will negotiate directly with him. [...]

“Boy, you can take your white Dacia Logan and drive until the land. We will come by our Porsche monster. Hopefully you will not arrive more than 30 minutes later than us, we will not wait you forever”. We entered in our cars. It was 2005 and I was driving a brand new… Dacia Logan. My client chose to enter in the car of his friend, a Porsche Cayenne. The driver was a successful at that time Greek businessman in Romania. Before to leave, I also learned my lesson by my client, my… “teacher”: “This car costs 105.000 Euro”… “These clothes cost 3.000 Euro”… “These shoes cost 700 Euro”, “he showed [...]

- “Ilia, how are you today?” – “I survive, how about you?” – “I need to meet you, it is urgent. I have some big opportunities for you or your clients”. – “Nice, what is it?” – “A list of lands, all of them directly from owners”. – “How about the prices?” – “I will send you the email and you will check them by yourself”. – “Ok, shoot!” (20 minutes later…) – “Did you receive the offers?” – “No, I received a wrong email. I think you sent me something from the past”. – “What past? These are the offers of the owners today”. – “I like some of the properties, 3 or 4, but I don’t dare informing my clients [...]

Romanian Real Estate market, Autumn 2008 (All Time Classic, 02.09.2008) “What happened, did you find anyone, damn you?”. It was 06.32 in the morning and I had forgotten my mobile switched on. The sound of the sms woke me up (good sign, means I was not snoring…) and I took it in my hands with a mechanic move. I didn’t really understand what was the meaning, I thought it was a mistake. Later on, after my fresh orange juice, I realized that this sms was sent by a friend of mine, a very important businessman here in Romania, who has a land to sell in Bucharest. He bought it in a high price and still [...]