Yes, you can buy real estate that’s not for sale. Billionaire Gensiro Kawamoto built his impressive multi-million dollar portfolio with this simple method. The secret? He just asks private homeowners if they want to sell and makes them a cash offer. With this method he has bought hundreds of properties in Hawaii. Granted, he pays inflated prices but, like Don Corleone, he makes them an offer they can’t refuse.
Mr. Kawamoto (Star Bulletin file photo 1990)
Source: Honolulu Star Bulletin (article by Nina Wu)
RENTAL TIP: Here’s a twist on the Kawamoto method used to rent office space in Manhattan:
Office space on Park, Madison or Fifth Avenues has curb appeal but is pricey. An enterprising professional I knew would literally knock on the doors of office suites in buildings with well-heeled addresses and simply ask if there was an office for sublet. None of the spaces were advertised as available. He NEVER failed to get office space this way and all below market. Asking doormen for tips was also helpful. The best was a large windowed office overlooking St. Patrick’s Cathedral. It was huge. He got the office for $400 month and held it for many years with NO rent increase. It just so happened that the person who answered the door & rented the office was an extremely wealthy, and famous, person who owned several commercial buildings in the city. He had used the office to store his expensive artwork (some of which he left to hang on the wall). He was more than happy to have a professional in residence. He soon became a loyal client.
Sometimes you just have to ask.
