Last Thursday, January 30, the students of the Master's Degree in Real Estate Strategy and Business attended the lecture entitled Trends and Changes in the Real Estate Industry in the USA and Europe, organized by the Real Estate Alumni Club at the postgraduate program of the University of Navarra in Madrid. The lecture was given by Manuel Martín, CEO of Kium Capital. Frans Goldszmidt Fischman, student of the Double Master's Degree in Architecture and Real Estate, tells us about her experience:
"The lecture began with the topic of adapting to a new culture, where Manuel Martín explained what it means to move from one country to another in the real estate sector, sharing his experience of moving from Spain to the United States. "Retail assets are complex, have many barriers to entrance, and finding investors is a core topic," he said. He explained that, although the Spain office was doing well, they were looking for someone to open an office in the U.S. and wanted real estate to be the base to execute the deals. "I didn't even think about it, I knew it would be good for my degree program, but I was looking for the next thing," Manuel commented. With a wife and young children, he embarked on a new stage in Miami, a radical change from Madrid to the United States. Although it was difficult to enter a new market, it was also a great opportunity. "They are very different worlds; today everything is very internationalized. Uniformity sometimes makes it difficult to do business, and in Spain things were easier," he added. For Manuel, breaking down barriers in a new market, on a professional and transparency level, is core topic, in any sector and region. "Information is very important; it must reach all markets. Liquidity is fundamental to execute operations. The rules must be clear from the beginning, and this generates confidence in investors, ensuring good relations and investment success," he concluded.
He then explained teammanagement and its importance in a real estate investment project . "It is crucial that there is respect and transparency among team members and teams. Salaries and confidentiality are shared, making work in the U.S. completely transparent". Regarding female leadership, she noted that it is still a male-dominated sector, although a shift is currently taking place. "The important thing is to have the necessary qualities to enter the industry," she said.
During the talk, the question of the future expectations of the real estate market in both the U.S. and Spain came up. The CEO of Kium Capital shared his vision on the future of investments and offered personal advice to the students present, who were interested in developing their degree program in the real estate sector.
On the current U.S. political status , he stressed that the current government is driving business and that this is positive for the market. "There is a lot of capital flow and the dollar will strengthen. In addition, many policies are going to increase inflation and prices, which will cause clients to look to put their money into real estate investments." According to Manuel, U.S. Economics is strong and will continue to be strong, as will real estate trends.
He also shared advice for students going forward: "I think it is very important to maximize human relationships. Here we must see the person on the other side of the contract, strengthen our network of contacts and deliver what we say. Also, real estate involves knowing where technology and society are going, and adapting to those changes." He also highlighted the long-term potential of the tourism, hospitality and leisure sector, especially in Spain, which has a huge stock of land and remains very attractive to tourists. "We must take advantage of this potential, especially in the hotel and retail sectors, where legal certainty is a core topic. It's not just about Economics, but about where the service is located." Finally, he shared a part of his staff routine: "Reading a lot and exercising are activities that I enjoy in my free time and are part of my daily life".
Text written by: Frans Goldszmidt Fischman, student of the Double Master's Degree in Architecture and Real Estate.
