EPISODES
Episode 14.
Leonard Rosen, CEO of Pitbull Conference and Executive Director of the NPLA
Jeff Tennyson (Speaker 1)
Welcome to The Real Estate of things podcast. I’m your host Dalton Elliot. Mr. Leonard Rosen. Thank you so much for joining.
Leonard Rosen (Speaker 2)
It’s my pleasure, Dalton. I’ve been looking forward to this all day. It was either this or root canal and I chose you chose the more difficult painful option.
Speaker 1
So you’re a masochist. I love it. I’ve known you. I’ve been in this space close to seven years, I’ve probably known you play six of those years and have gotten to know new to know you even better and better in the recent past. Quite the pedigree you have right? You’re the Executive Director of the National private lenders Association. And you’re the CEO of the pitbull conference, really the market maker for private lending. This conference, really an ecosystem unto itself is a couple of decades old, right? And you have your mark, my friend, 20 years, march 2022. Gosh, that is a real testament to what you’ve built out. And it’s everyone I go to, I felt like more and more people there. So it just keeps growing, which is a beautiful thing. You have to start by telling me and the listeners the origin of the pit bull nickname, your Leonard Rosen, the Pitbull. Where did that come from?
Speaker 2
Well, there’s actually that’s, that’s an interesting question. And there’s actually two questions. One is, how did the name originate? And number two is, how is it that every, every photo that we take, I have my finger, so I’ll enter the purple one first. In 1985, I was the six o’clock news anchor for the financial news network. And we cover it, it was a one hour program. And we covered everything from real estate, equities, markets, and so forth. But my very first cat, I remember it as literally yesterday, my very first airing was that the Financial News Network Studios in Santa Monica. And I was all nervous. I was a young 30 something year old kid. And you know, I get off the plane because I lived in Hawaii at the time. And I get off the plane, billboards. La X lovely rose, and the new Star financial news that was out and went to my head, like, so I got there, like on a Sunday night, and I had all day Monday to prepare. And back in those days. You know, this was a, this was a live program. And back in those days, I didn’t have an assistant, I would, I would put things on the teleprompter, which would give me an idea of how to go through this one hour segment. And then a one hour segment is 22 minutes of content per 30 minutes. So it’s eight minutes of commercials. So I you know, I didn’t come up with 45 minutes of content. Anyways, I spent the whole day writing this out. So the teleprompter and so forth, and so on the first time doing it, and I’m getting all ready and I’m fixing my tie and get it all ready. And the director said okay, you all set, let it go. Yeah, I’m ready to go baby starts to count me down. And it goes 10 Nine, and then all of a sudden, it stops. And he says teleprompter is out you’re gonna have to go on your own 321 Hello, everybody. I’m letting Rosa Welcome to another edition of financial news network with Leonard frozen. And I got through it somehow by the grace of God. And at the break, he walked up to me and everybody’s like scratching their head. They go, I have no idea how you pull that off. Only a guy with a pitbull mentality could pull that off. And from that point on at the financial news network as we free up people’s air, and that’s kind of how it started. So when so when financial news network was bought out by CNBC, I was offered to go to New York and work with Dan Dorfman. And at that point, Neil Cavuto, although he’s on Fox right now, and a few other guys that didn’t want to live in New York wasn’t like, wasn’t my thing. And so that’s kind of how it happened. The second part to the question is how is it that every picture has got, you know, that I take it’s got a finger Applying? Yeah 18 years ago, we sponsored Chris Lee been in the UFC and Chris levens look was, was that luck, and I consider that stolen. And Chris was in San Diego, and every time I see a void that’s how that happened. So it’s kind of a funny story. But that’s how it happened. So when I started pipl conference, you know, it was kind of like, well, how can I, you know, how can I be very different than very recognizable? And I came up with the name and through the years I thought, Well, should I change it? I’ve had people say change it for people to you know, PMC or BB or when something you know what, I’m still gonna throw to the end, you know, and I just kept it.
Speaker 1
I love it. What do you expect any different from Yeah, I love it. One of my one of my favorite work photos that has been taken of me is you and I on stage in Miami, when at my day job, limo and capital, we won the private lender of the Year Award from Pitbull. And we had that we had to get had to get the old fingerprint photos. So I saw that one. Couple days ago, as I was scrolling through LinkedIn just being reminiscent of days past. I love it. So you have been ingrained in this space, the private lending space as deeply as anyone could possibly be in the last 20 years. So really take me back 20 years for perspective. I was I was eight years old. iTunes had just launched and Enron had just filed for bankruptcy protection. So it doesn’t sound like a crazy amount of time. But when you think about 20 years ago, it was a different world in the lending space. Right?
Speaker 2
Well, it wasn’t private lending. Yeah, it was hard money lending. And was, you know, little pockets of what I called Harvard, Marv. Harvard Mark would have a shop on top of like pharmacy or delicatessen and the two guys that were hard, they truly were hard money lenders. People that I did a, I did an interview for the Wall Street Journal about 10 years ago. And they asked, you know, why is it called Hard money lending? Is it because it’s hard to get through? It’s hard, but who knows. I mean, it’s the second oldest profession, in the world is lending. You can use your imagination on the first, back then it was clearly hard money lending. And that’s what it was. And, and there was no association, there was no conferences there was, there was no glue that put anything together. That’s a you know, I was kind of semi retired, you know, it’s 50 years old. I didn’t need the money, but I needed something to do. So I said, Alright, let’s, you know, let’s go with this. So I, I realized that there was a void in the marketplace, there was a void in the marketplace in terms of creating a marketplace for at that time, hard money lenders. And we started off with, with interesting beginnings. Two guys at a coffee shop in Pacific Beach, California, about a mile from where I live, I live in La Jolla, Pacific Beach about a mile from here. And they paid me $395 Each to sit in a coffee shop for six hours to teach them what hard money lending is and how it can be useful to them. That’s how it started. I probably paid the server 100 out of that 395 Just so we could sit there all day, but that’s how it started. Back then, it was the Wild West. It was nothing like it is today, for sure. And then we had our first event we did one in Los Angeles, I think we had 28 people in one sponsor. Then we jumped to two sponsors and like 40 people and you know, it just kind of grew for them. But at that time, make no mistake, it still was hard money lending. Then the market shifted, and he locks were the big thing. home equity lines of credit. And we’re still hard money lending and so that started the change from the commercial aspect of 10 to 12 points. upfront at 90% interest rate to something that was like four or five points, origination 12% on the HELOC 12 14%. That’s that was the product does your at that time and a company called quality home loans came to me and said we know you’re doing these small events. But we you know we’re very big in the HELOC business and we want you to, to travel up or down in California and do the events for us, which I did. And I remember doing the I said that you’re gonna have all the marketing and so forth. Yeah, well, we’re gonna pack the house back the House. And I remember doing an event up in up in San Jose. And I was at the Hilton. They’re supposed to be a couple 100 people, I think 12 or 13 people showed up. And that night, I had Chilean sea bass, which I love, but got sick as a dog. And I mean, I was really sick. And I woke up the next morning, how am I going to do this. And I literally did like two hours in the morning, I went into the bathroom, like, I got six exit. And I finished it. I don’t know how I did it, I finished it. And that’s a little side story. Anyways, then came 2007 2008 real estate crisis crash and so forth.
Speaker 1
And what happened?
Speaker 2
The interesting part was, it was really good that that happened, from my perspective. And from the industry’s perspective, because what we had in the business at that time, we’re going back to 2000 678. These were basically used car salesmen that were selling he locks and whatever they could sell. You know, they had no commitment to the industry, no commitment to growing the space. No. I mean, it was a job, how much money can I make and get out? And so what happens when the real estate crisis happened? It really cleanses the entire industry, which was a good thing. And then we started to see a paper guys who got in clobbered through the whole real estate market. So what do you remember those loans? While you’re probably too young at that point, like 1213 years old, 125% loan, so if you wanted to borrow 100,000, they would loan you 125,000? Well, well, obviously that’s not sustainable. asleep, right. And that prove, you know, so. So what happens is, is that the market went way left, and then it goes away, right? And that kind of settles in the middle. And about 2008 2009 to eight paper guys started to really realize that this space was a good space to be in. So we had our first our first wave of really legitimate people coming in, coming into, into the industry into the community. And so that was that was that was a that was really interesting because I mean, I could see it, different kinds of people, you know, guys with suits and ties that look like they walk out of Bank of America would come in versus the guys wearing the Chicago Bulls jersey. You know, that no, seriously that the makeup of the audience change? Yeah, the dialogue changed. Then we had a very interesting, very, very interesting and I think profound situation that happened was probably 2009 We did an event in Atlantic City at Caesar’s Palace. And, and back then we were selling just up, sell seats, two for one. Seats. $395.02 people can attend $175 each. I think we had like maybe 100 people back in 2009 and maybe three or four sponsors. Back in the cheap seats was John Beecham from Direct Capital Partners, Eric Abramovich from rock and John Hornick. And they were sitting In the back in the cheap seats trying to figure out what this is all about. And now, you know, things have dramatically changed, and Terrax and rock. And then Lima came a little bit after that. They were the institutional guys, Wall Street, looked at the space and said we’d like the asset class, that was a game changer for our entire industry. And when the book is written about our space 20 years from now, looking back at this era, I would, I would say, with a high degree of confidence, that that particular event with there with rock there, that is what changed the entire industry, because there was nothing else. There was no other Association, there was no other conference. I mean, yes, they had, you know, California Mortgage Association, you know, things like that knowing, you know, Florida, but you know, but I’m talking about for private lending, you know, that was the game changer. And then from that point, from that point, it just progressed and matured into what it is now, which is a thriving industry that provides capital to communities and need capital to investors, to stimulate the economy. And, and a group of people that are in it for the right reasons. Now we all of course, well want to make a lipid. You know, that goes without saying, but I’m talking about people of integrity, the Jeff Tennyson’s of the world, the Eric Abramovich is of the world I mean, I can go on and on and on. And so the past 1012 years has been really interesting, from my perspective, to look at what has transpired, and I think in the next five to 10 years, it’s, you know, there’ll be bumps in the road, like, there isn’t anything, but I think the I think this space is here to stay.
Speaker 1
What do you think I’ll like the book comment you made? So you know, if we’re in chapter 10, today, what does chapter 11 look like? Do you think? Do you think our industry is going to be noticeably different 510 years from now? Or do you think it’s going to be kind of just stabilized growth? Or is there going to be anything drastically different?
Speaker 2
I think there’s going to be consolidation. And I think what’s going to happen, and we’re already starting to see it is more large investors are going to come in, and they’re going to be buying the smaller, say, smaller, but the companies that are primed to be to be taken over, I think that’s what’s gonna happen, it’s going to become much more institutionalized than it is now. And it’s never been this institutionalized, ever. So I think that’s gonna happen. I think we’re gonna see, you know, like, for example, KKR is, you know, behind Tourette, for example, I think KKR will probably have a bigger hand and things and, and, and hedge funds and large invest, investment companies are going to come in and they’re going to gobble up the smaller guys. I think that’s what’s gonna happen. At least that’s what I see. What do you think?
Speaker 1
I agree. Yeah. And like you said, we’re kind of at the in the early stages of seeing that happening. You had the kind of B to R and Jordan capital A few years ago on the a and then you go down the list yet really, within the last 1218 months of large groups in this space. You probably the smallest one was doing, I don’t know 500 $600 million on up to you know, at Lima one, a billion and a half dollar originator. We were just crazy. Yeah. Oh, yeah. When I when I got here, I started here at Lehman capital six weeks after graduating college. We were doing maybe a couple million a month, right. It was it was not anything I employee number 14. So we had 14 people in the office and today we have 250 people and you know, if we did a few million dollars in a month of production, every head would roll that would be it. That’s just not You know, we’re in the well above that, you know, you’re punching in the 151 7180 on up. So it’s the growth just within the time frame. I’ve been a part of that is absolutely insane and listening to you over the years and today describe how this industry has changed to the point where it’s really the old face of the industry is unrecognizable today. You agreed? Yeah. So I’m with you on that point. Let’s, let’s talk a little bit about the MPLA. Right, the National private lenders association. So you, where did this idea come from?
Speaker 2
Oh, this can be a little controversial. But okay, no controversies. Okay. I like it. Yeah. Okay, so. So pypl conference was never designed to be an association. It was a market driven business, to bring capital providers, originators and lenders together for commerce, that was the sole purpose of people conference, we wanted to bring it from 30 people to 300 people to 600 people to 800 people, that was the growth of people conference. And so it never was designed to be a voice out of anybody. It was designed simply to be the market maker, and allow the market to do what it wanted, wanted to do and go where it wanted to go. And it was my job just to steer it along to make sure that everybody was, you know, it was was all together on it. And people were doing business. And about four years ago or so, I realized that there was a clear, a very clear void in the marketplace, there was another organization that uses the name association, but they weren’t in Association did they know it and everybody knows that they simply were not. And I’m not going to bring out any names or anything. That’s up to you if you want to, but there was not an association. Anybody can use the word association in their name. They did nothing. from a legislative standpoint, from a code of ethics standpoint, from a best practices standpoint, it was just a word. And then I made the announcement that that we’re going to start the national private lenders Association, and I’ll tell you, it’s kind of it’s kind of interesting. To my right is an orange chair. In my, in my, in my office, and I had a gal was with me for 16 years. And I said I’m going to start the national private lenders Association. And we had a meeting that day, about conference, we had an event coming up and so forth, and I’ll never forget it. And she was writing notes and taking things down some certain national private lenders Association, blah, blah, blah, and here’s what it’s going to do. And she looked up, he says, Oh, that’s nice. Now, how many sponsors do we have for this event? Just like totally didn’t hear a word I said, or I don’t know, didn’t believe that I was going to do it. Or, I don’t know. Because people know Leonard Rosen, when he says something, he’s going to do it, and it’s gonna, it’s gonna be successful. I’ll never forget that moment. And, and I won’t say my wife was skeptical, but you know, she, tell me more, how is this gonna work? How’s it going to function? And, you know, what’s the price and so forth. And I said, it’s going to be a hybrid type of association. It’s not going to be a nonprofit, because that doesn’t get those two words together and not in my vocabulary, nonprofit, or not for profit. What are you talking about?
Speaker 2
But I wanted to make it an exclusive organization, Association for the major players by invitation only. And yes, I mean, we are out, always looking for new members, but they have to go through a whole process to become a member. It’s a whole big thing and that and that’s something that evolved. We’ll get to that in a moment. I wanted to have a voice for the industry that I believe I created. And this other company that use the name Association, which was a joke, in my opinion. It was a joke. It was a joke. Then they started to realize, oh, Leonard’s doing something so then they kind of like make it look like they’re an association. The reality is, is this. The National private lenders association was designed to protect the industry from overzealous legislators, that could affect our space. That was the number one reason that it was started. So if that’s the case, if what I’m saying make sense, then it would also make sense for us to be registered lobbyists. Right, which we are, we’re registered lobbyists in New York and New Jersey and Texas and Florida. And I can go on and on. And in addition to that, we invest $10,000 a month, a month in professional lobbyists to represent the MPLA so not only are we registered lobbyists, but we hire lobbyists on your on the outside to represent us. We don’t do these stupid petitions Oh, save the industry sign this petition that nonsense, because you know what happens with those petitions? Legislators get it? Oh, that’s nice. 160 people are opposed it. And what are we doing for lunch? We’re going to Chipotle today, or what do we do? This, the work is done behind the scenes. And so these, these, these, these petitions, their marketing schemes to show their members that they’re doing something, that’s what that is. And so the you know, the true reality is, is that hard work is though we changed the law in New York, Governor Cuomo signed the law to protect the lenders in New York because of the MPLA. That’s a fact. That’s not an opinion. That is a fact. And so we have we have we have relationships in the governor’s office now Cuomo is out his new governor and so forth. But the lieutenant governor is we’ve become friends. And he was he was a state legislator, and now we become friends and we have financially supported him. And they’re friends of the MP like, that’s how you get work done, not through a stupid online petition. So the MPLA is a true Association designed to protect our members from overzealous regulators. That’s how it started. Then, with the leadership of Jeff Kennison of Lima one, we created the Ethics Committee. And then we created our best practices committee. And we created our legislative committee, and our membership committee. So each committee and well, you’re the head of the ethics committee.
Speaker 1
I am. I am. Yeah. Incredible, incredible honor as something I’m humbled about and on the membership call a couple weeks ago, you know, threw down the gauntlet a little bit of, you know, we had an incredibly active committee in 2021. Right, we got the code of ethics approved, which is really kind of a guiding ethical light for this industry. And there’s so much more to come and more to do around that. And there’s fun competition between the committee’s I, I wake up, and I have three things on my mind, Leonard, I have real estate things podcast, Director sales and customer experience at Lima, one capital and Chairman of the ethics committee of the MPLA. And I want us on that committee, you know, we’re all a family on the MPLA. But that competitive drive of I will our committee to be the most highly productive committee of that organization. And I think I’m not alone in that. On the committee leadership side and you pointed the New York, you pointed to the New York legislation, really quickly it became apparent my day job at Lima one the importance of this organization because it was in the beginning. When we first heard about the MPLA and I know you and Jaffa talked about it a lot in the beginning. You know, how is this actually going to impact and it didn’t take long before, kind of the group you assembled was already making things happen to really protect the positive, fruitful interests of everybody in this space?
Speaker 2
Well, here, here’s the thing that I that I’ve learned, I know where my strengths are, and I know where my weaknesses are. And one of the strengths I have is the ability to bring in great talent, who know who knows more than I do. I have no ego when it comes to that. John Hornick, Jeff Tennyson’s the only Cassie Erica Abramovich, you know, you know, and the young guns that are coming up, are you just boredom and Corine moto Kiko capital. So, so I’ve been able to surround myself with people who have expertise in areas that perhaps I don’t. And so they help guide me in, in my thought process. And like I say, without Lima one, without your efforts, as well as Jeff Tennyson’s efforts. I don’t think the Ethics Committee, I think that this committee would have been in existence, but wouldn’t have the four Senate he has, you know, today, and we know, we’ve dealt with some, you know, some very uncomfortable scenarios with, you know, a couple of our members over this past year, and it was through the Ethics Committee. And, and, and the way we handled it that I think, was just exemplary. So, you know, look, we have to police ourselves, we have to be the shining light, the Shining Force in the marketplace, if we police ourselves, and make sure that we do good business, made sure that we, we conduct ourselves in a professional manner, treat our treat our trading partners well, as well as our customers, and our employees and so forth. And we police that, I believe that that becomes the model for other associations and for other companies to do business in. And, and I raises the bar for everyone in the industry. Look, this is, this is a great, this is a great industry, it’s a great business. And watching it grow is very exciting to me and watching the new players come in. I’ll tell you what really excites me. As I mentioned you for example, Cory, knee Moto, Justin, for him, the young guns that are coming up, look, I’m going to be seven years old in March. How much longer am I going to do this? I don’t know. But they’ll have to shovel me how to get me out of here. But you know, being realistic, being realistic, what we’re doing now, if you really think about it, the knowledge base that we’re acquiring, to pass down to the younger guys that are in their 30s, and so forth, it gives them a model to, to use, we had no model all these years, right, there was no model to go by. So now as we pass it down, and everyone gets a little bit older, and you hand over the reins, and that’s the part that excites me probably more than anything. Because if you understand the history of our space, and understand where it was, and where it is now, the young folks that are coming up the ranks, they can say okay, all right. What have we learned over this era? Why did we learn over that era? And where can we take it even further? That’s what excites me.
Speaker 1
Yeah, it rings a word rings in my head of legacy. I think in the in the pre interview call you and I were chatting a little bit and I shared with you. I don’t think my network in this space would be a 10th of what it is today, if not for you pit bull MPLA that that ecosystem that you’ve created. So I am incredibly grateful for every account. So contribution to that and my birthday is coming up I am accepting cash donation We can talk about that. Yeah, I so real quick I want to make sure anybody who’s listening isn’t familiar with pit bull or MPLA if you want to learn more about the pit bull conference, it’s Pitbull conference.com. Right, Leonard?
Speaker 2
Yep. That’s it, and then promote look, I’m not here to promote people conference, right? We’re just having a conversation that those are two businesses that are in my portfolio. But yes, people conference calm and MPLA online.
Speaker 1
Yeah, yeah. To two great organizations. Do you mind if we go off the beaten path here? A couple of quirky questions up my sleeve for you. All right, you Leonard. By the way. Yeah. Is this the greatest mousepad ever? I didn’t pick one up last time in March. I’m going to grab one. I can’t think of any anything better than see your smiling face on my desk every morning.
Speaker 2
A little more conservative. Like that, too. Well, I want to just tell you a quick, funny story. At the last event, we had the FBI sit on our cybersecurity panel. And it was a really, I thought it was a great panel. And at the end, the FBI agent came over he said, you know we had this at our booth. And he said do you mind if I take one because none of the agents back at the office? Guarantee by have anything like that. So special in July? Be my guest, sir.
Speaker 1
Love it a mix up the old FBI field office five. Now, yeah, that may be an issue. Now. They know what Leonard Rosen looks like. That’s good. I love it. So one thing that was immediately apparent to me the first time I saw you, yeah, you dress well, right? Yeah. Whether it’s casual, dress up, dress down. You always look very crisp and clean, which I greatly appreciate. I’m a fan of it. So putting it to the test here. What’s your favorite piece of clothing? Is there is there like one thing that just fits perfectly? You love it like this is? This is 10 out of 10? If my whole if you know if my calls it burned down? This is the one thing I would go save?
Speaker 2
Well, you know, it’s interesting that I’ve had no idea where to go down this road. It’s interesting, because well, first of all, thank you for the comment. And I understand that the event coming up as our 54th event. I buy either a new suit or loose vocal for every event, I have to literally take these custom made suits and take them to Goodwill. That’s just the thing. It just got good luck thing, you know, never worse for coats. I never wear suits in my daily life. I mean, I wear you know, kind of Lululemon kind of stuff, and so forth.
Speaker 2
So I would say I would, I would say I’ll wear anything as long as I look better than John Hornick.
Oh man, I love it comes up to me. He comes up to me at every event. And he goes like this and he feels the fabric. I get to hear you wearing baggy pants like that. Oh man. I said you have to like wear the you know, the tighter pants.
Speaker 1
I will say I think I think Hornick is a I think he stepped his game up. The I was I think like two maybe two years ago, there was an event. It was like as this hortic looks different than the Hornak I remember. And then this is the John’s
Speaker 2
credit. John lost like 2530 pounds. He’s looking good now playing golf. And now John looks great. I mean, John’s one of those guys that he he never had a bad word to say about a mirror or microphone.
Speaker 1
I love it. Yeah. If you’re if you’re competing with Mr. Mayor, John Hornick. You’re You’re, you’re in rarefied air.
Speaker 2
You’re a mayor of New Jersey. America is the fastest and quite honestly that we’re talking about John Hornick. John horhn. He was on your on your bike. This was enough. I you know he was maybe you could send me send me the link to that. I’d love that. I love this. Yeah, absolutely. John is such a principle guy and made such a contribution to people’s success. And you know, he’s also a general counsel. The MPLA there wasn’t anything in the world I wouldn’t do for John but I did get a holiday gift from him was some cookies was I thought was a little weak. Tell you that. He had said these beautiful was a two or three years ago, these beautiful wine glasses. They’re all this. This is really nice. And they’re all busted. They came, all the glasses were broken. By the time wherever they shipped from to me. I’m still waiting for those to be replaced. But if Hardik is watching this at some point, tell him the cookies are lovely.
Speaker 1
I’ll I will do that. I’ll send I’ll send Hornik the Rosen episode link and I’ll send Rosen the Hornak episode link, and we’ll get everybody caught up on the relationship. Well, I got one more question. And I know you’re a busy fellow. I’ll let you get out of here after this. So I love to travel. Right. That’s the biggest thing that killed me during COVID was Oh, absolutely horrible. We had a whole docket of trips planned for the year and just cancelling and all that converted into newer shelter place in South Carolina, right?
Speaker 1
Yeah, we were not for a terribly long time. But there were a couple of months where you went out to the grocery store probably two full months of like, grocery store. And that was it. Yeah. In and out. Not as bad as other places. But it was it was a hit to the gut for sure. It became COVID became real for me whenever travel started to get canceled.
Speaker 2
Yeah, for sure. killed me. Yeah. So.
Speaker 1
So what is uh, what’s the destination that you’ve never been to? That’s on the list? If you could, if you had time to check off one more vacation spot that you had never been to before? have any idea what that would be?
Speaker 2
I had no idea. We’re going down this road.
Speaker 1
I know I’m, I’m shooting to your blind here.
Speaker 2
Okay. Um, I will I will tell you this. I live three blocks from the ocean. And one way California. People come here to vacation. So I never, I just don’t feel that I have to go anywhere. But when I do and understand also, I lived in Hawaii for 20 years. And so, you know, I’ve lived in some pretty exotic places. There’s one place I go to every year that is so special. Now you’re asking me where would you like to go that you hadn’t been? There’s no place. I would rather go to the Negril, Jamaica. And we were married there 25 years ago, but I’ve been going there for 35 years. And I get off the plane to Montego Bay, everybody knows who I am. I feel very comfortable there. Kind of a Caribbean kind of a guy. I actually gave serious thought actually buying a resort out there a couple of years ago and manifest the owner of the resorts and you know, I’ve owned this is boring resort for 36 years. We’ve had six pirate attacks over those years, literally pirates that come from the company. He said, trust me, Leonard. He says I’ll sell it to you. But trust me, you don’t want to buy it. He that he is he just said you know, just because of it’s been in my family for all these years. That’s just why I keep it but you know, but on the 29th Hornick Pash Abramovich. Ah we’re all going to Jamaica the day after the event to Jamaica, where my seven year old has about 16 of us that are going but you know, Jamaica is a very, very special place. They were like I love the vibe. I love the food. I love the music. You can drink the water. I’m not a Mexico guy. I don’t go to Mexico. I mean, Tijuana is 70 miles from where I live like go the other direction. I am not a Mexico guy. Maybe some people are my brother is but the Caribbean and the grill. Jamaica is one of the most rare Do you remember the that scene, the bar scene in Star Wars years ago, the first Star Wars. I mean, if you remember the different characters on the bar scene, was it when Han Solo walked in? And walked in there? Yeah. Okay. That’s the girl Jamaica. I have zero desire to go to Europe. I do think at some point we’ll go to Israel because it’s our homeland. And we’ll probably do that. But I don’t feel compelled to go anywhere other than Jamaica. That’s beautiful.
Speaker 1
You find a place and it takes all the boxes. Just spend as much time there as you possibly can this life.
Speaker 2
Yeah, yeah. It just for us. It works. You know? Yeah.
Speaker 1
Beautiful, beautiful. Leonard, I can’t thank you enough really, truly for carving out time on this episode. But I deeply appreciate everything you have done for me personally and professionally over the years. I consider your good friend and thank you for all you do.
Speaker 2
Well, though, this was my honor to be on. What is this a podcast? Is that what this is? That’s what this is? Yeah. Okay. To be on your podcast, and it’s been fun. We went down a couple roads, I didn’t know where we’re going to go down. And that’s okay. That’s kind of fun. That’s cool. Look, it’s guys like you that are in the marketplace that are that will make a big difference, a much, much bigger difference than I’ve ever made. It’s people like you that step up to the plate and make it up, you know, make the space better. So I want to thank you. I really enjoyed this. And now I’m going to go out for to Chipotle or something like that. Take my wife out to lunch.
Speaker 1
Beautiful. We will not delay you any further. Leonard, thanks for joining and thanks, everybody for listening. Take care.
The Real Estate of Things 