In their words...
The month’s funniest and most insightful comments on real estate
“Real estate is a wonderful business. You can enjoy it right up until the time you croak.” Harry Macklowe, founder of Macklowe Properties, in a speech to the Real Estate Lenders Association.
“I was playing for Indiana for two years before I finally sold my Denver house. My ‘dream house’ turned into ‘my dream is to sell this house.’” Jalen Rose, retired NBA star and ESPN commentator, advising rookies on what not to buy with money from their first contract. (Grantland)
“I was like, ‘Why am I throwing my money away when I could give myself from $25,000 to $40,000 [more] for the same amount of work?’” Rapid Realty employee Stephanie Barry, on getting a tattoo of the company’s logo in exchange for a 15 percent pay raise. (CBS News)
“A vanity price is a great way to get your 15 minutes of fame.” NYC broker Donna Olshan, who specializes in luxury listings, on the number of properties nationwide listed with price tags of $100 million or more that end up going for less or simply not selling at all. (Wall Street Journal)
26 June 2013 www.TheRealDeal.com
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“Without Eddie Shapiro, I’d still be a hand model.” Reality TV broker Ryan Serhant of Nest Seekers International, referring to his boss and his former career, at a party kicking off his second season on “Million Dollar Listing New York.”
“I’ve run out of Mary Anns to invite as keynote speakers.” Architect Vishaan Chakrabarti, who heads Columbia University’s Center for Urban Real Estate, referring to two guests at a CURE benefit — MaryAnne Gilmartin of Forest City Ratner Companies and Mary Ann Tighe of CBRE.
“I don’t want to be a braggadocio: I build great buildings.” Donald Trump, developer and reality TV star, from the witness stand at a civil trial where he is accused of making false promises to get an 87-year-old woman to buy a condo in his namesake Chicago tower. She lost. (Chicago Tribune)
“The rules of real estate are no longer the same / Basic fundamentals are the name of the game.” San Diego broker Rafael Alberto Perez, rapping in a music video about the current state of the housing market. (Huffington Post)
“We are calling this the Viagra cycle — you know, we want it to last a little bit longer.” Carlos Rosso of the Related Group of Florida, on the remarkable comeback of the Miami condominium market, at a TRD developers roundtable.
“Big real estate rules this island, and it always will.” Real estate author Michael Gross, on being forced by the city to leave his co-op so Extell Development could replace a Sandy-damaged construction crane on its One57 luxury condo tower. (The New York Times) www.TheRealDeal.com August 2006 00
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