In line with Chris Johnson’s post this morning, a charming real estate story from The American Spectator:
Recently, I was contacted about a hot deal in Buckeye (the fast-growth, west side of Phoenix) by a very bright, young Phoenix wheeler-dealer.
We’ll call him Tony (not his real name). Tony was, and still is, one of the smartest guys I have ever met. I first met him as super-charged go-getter sitting in one of the thousands of real estate cubicles on Camelback Road. At that time, he brought me a deal that turned out very well, and he was pleasant and honest throughout the whole process. Over the years, as I predicted at the time, Tony would quickly move out of the cubicle and into something bigger and better. History proved me correct and by 2004, Tony had a fancy office on the Camelback Miracle Mile with a secretary that looked like she just stepped out of Vogue.
Sitting in his plush office, Tony was still Tony, going 1,000 miles per hour and talking up deals, but in a nice and pleasant way. He had picked up a few nice souvenirs of the ongoing boom, including a fancy spread in the 85253 zip code where he entertained lavishly, a sleek new private jet, and a very cool yacht in Marina Del Rey. At Tony’s 2005 Christmas Party, I could have sworn that half the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders were there at Tony’s Paradise Valley house.
Anyway, Tony was calling me after a long absence. I had missed the ’06 and ’07 Christmas parties, but I can only imagine their lavish scale. Tony was now on the phone saying he had a great deal that I should look at “right away…this one you’re gonna love.” I have heard that line a million times, but in Tony’s case, I trusted his judgment and agreed to meet that day at my office. Tony arrived, pitched the deal (I was already fairly familiar with the location and the dynamics of the site), and indeed, it was a deal. It was exactly right for one of my clients in Houston who was trying to figure out how to spend his $120 per barrel profits. We wrote up a deal on the spot, and, as I generally do with everyone, I walked him to the door. I was also terrifically curious to see Tony’s latest ride. I am a hopeless car-nut and Tony always drove something fast, sleek, and that got miserable gas mileage, but these cars got Tony a never ending string of beautiful lady friends.
“Tony, what’s your latest hot rod? Do you have time to take me around the block?” Tony always liked to show off his newest car, and back in 2005, Tony actually gave me a quick, exhilarating ride up 24th Street (we hit 110 between Missouri Avenue and Lincoln Drive).
Tony looked absolutely ashen when I asked about his car. He stopped on the sidewalk in front of my building and set his briefcase down. Suddenly Tony wasn’t Tony.
“I have to tell you something. I hope this doesn’t change anything, or what you think of me.”
“What? Did you join a cult or something?”
“No, I came here today in a cab.”
From years of looking into the eyes of honest and dishonest men, I could tell that Tony was telling me the truth.
“I’ve lost everything.
“The Bank took the house in Paradise Valley, the cars are gone, the jet, everything. I’m living at my sister’s house right now. My girlfriend moved back to L.A. The only thing I have left is my dog.”
I WAS STUNNED, but not totally surprised. After all, nobody enjoyed the boom as much as Tony. I think he was single-handedly trying to raise the GNP of Arizona by his endless spending.
“Is our deal dead?”
I was still a bit stunned, but moreover because I hadn’t ever seen Tony so serious and throttled back..
“No, it doesn’t change anything. I love the deal and I’m glad you thought to bring it to me.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely!”
“Got any more just like it?”
Tony grinned and returned to the 1,000 mph Tony that I used to know. “Yes, I have a shopping center where the lady died and the kids just want the cash, and a quarter section near Tucson and a….”
I was relieved.
Tony was still Tony. Losing everything didn’t change the most important aspect of his life and key to his future wealth: his drive and enthusiasm for deals.
I fully predict that Tony will shortly have a new sleek car that gets him the girls, eventually another money-pit yacht, and another jet to get him there.
I am absolutely confident of it.
Why? Because Tony has the most valuable asset known to man: unwavering spirit and confidence in himself…..not in Bear Stearns, not in the U.S. Federal Reserve, not in Wall Street’s Latest Big Idea, not in mercurial investors that come and go, but in himself.
Yes, Tony was an idiot with money while he had it, but “it’s not how far you fall, but how high you bounce.”
Technorati Tags: blogging, real estate, real estate marketing
Scott Gaertner says:
Great story Greg. I can’t wait to hear of Tonys return to wealth.
June 10, 2008 — 8:59 am
Chris says:
Great story! My uncle did something similer in the 80’s crash, lost his shirt. Now he better off than ever before.
June 10, 2008 — 9:44 am
Geno Petro says:
Reminiscent of both Tom Wofle protaganists, Charles Croker (‘A Man in Full’) and Sherman McCoy (‘Bonfire of …) only sweeter.
The existential hero in the American novel, like Tony, always has a fatal flaw, it seems. Great post. Right up my alley.
June 10, 2008 — 1:14 pm
Jeff Brown says:
I’m reminded of the real estate agent’s prayer:
Please Lord, let me have just one more boom market. And this time? I PROMISE not to piss it all away. Amen
June 10, 2008 — 2:15 pm
Thomas Johnson says:
“Please Lord, let me have just one more boom market. And this time? I PROMISE not to piss it all away. Amen”
Jeff: That’s the oil mans’s prayer in ERAHouston as well.
By the way did you know that ERAHouston is the best place in the USA to live and work?
http://agent21.featuredblog.com/?p=23
That oil guy is going to love Tony.
June 10, 2008 — 10:18 pm
KC Investments says:
He’s only an idiot if he didn’t learn the next time around. If he does learn then he was just ignorant.
June 11, 2008 — 8:22 am
Mark McGlothlin says:
“Losing everything didn’t change the most important aspect of his life and key to his future wealth: his drive and enthusiasm for deals.”
Our greatest asset should be what’s between our ears; exercise, enlarge, and improve your thinking capacity every day. (And turn off your TV.)
June 11, 2008 — 8:38 am
Malok says:
Inspiring story. Perseverance is something that really just can’t be taught. It has to come from inside.
June 12, 2008 — 4:10 am
Bill Lublin says:
Glenn;
Somtimes Jeff Brown and I think so much alike that it scares me 😉
I read your story , thought of the quote he mentions, and ran over here to post it only to find Jeff got here first – Wotta guy!
I can only tell you , since this ain’t my first rodeo either, Tony is well on the way back, and “This too shall pass!” All we need to do is keep on keepin’ on.
June 14, 2008 — 2:31 am