EP 139 - Thriving Through Five Decades of Real Estate - Luis Belmonte

Luis Belmonte shares his five decades of experience in real estate, discussing various investment strategies, the importance of understanding market trends, and the lessons learned from both successes and failures in the industry. He emphasizes the significance of being prepared for economic downturns and offers practical advice for new investors looking to enter the real estate market. Known by the nickname “Lowball Luis”, Luis shares his insights on successful negotiation. Additionally, Luis discusses his books that provide insights into real estate investment and negotiation strategies.  An industry veteran, Luis has bought, sold, developed, built, and managed every type of real estate investment possible.  

Luis Belmonte is a founding partner of Seven Hills Properties and among the founders of AMB Property Corporation (now Prologis), where he ran the development program ($250 million per year) and supervised management of assets in the Western United States.

Luis’ books include:

Street Dog Negotiator https://www.amazon.com/Street-Dog-Negotiator-Trenches-Negotiation/dp/B0D47M5PSH

Street Dog MBA
https://www.amazon.com/Street-Dog-MBA-Luis-Belmonte-ebook/dp/B0BBPN2D1C

Street Dog Manager
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Street-Dog-Manager-Business-Negotiation/dp/B0DPN9P33M

Real Estate 101: A Guided Tour of the Business With an Industry Veteran
https://www.amazon.com/Real-Estate-101-Business-Industry-ebook/dp/B07Y7NGFRS

Street Dog Investor is Luis’ next book and will be released in 2025.

Takeaways
- Understanding market trends is crucial for successful investing.
- Recessions can present unique opportunities for savvy investors.
- New investors should assess their comfort level with property management.
- Indifference in negotiations can lead to better outcomes.
- Replacement costs are a key factor in real estate transactions.
- Investing in real estate requires a strong understanding of cash flow.
- Louis emphasizes the importance of learning from mistakes.
- The real estate market has changed significantly with technology.
- There is more funding available for small entrepreneurs today.