Real Estate, A Love Story

Real Estate, A Love Story is a lyrical, thought-provoking, and wildly entertaining chronicle of one man's quest for truth, beauty, and outsize returns in the cutthroat world of real estate.



With a rare combination of philosophical vision and practical insight, author Joshua Benaim takes readers on a deeply personal journey from his early years in New York City to his time as an internationally touring opera singer, his business launch during the Great Recession, and, finally, to his position today as one of real estate's most original thinkers.



Benaim presents a full picture of investing and development in "the toughest business in the world" in three acts:



I: How I Fell In Love With Real Estate

II: Value Investment and The Handshake Philosophy

III: The Art of Real Estate Development



Along the way, he offers a compassionate, interdisciplinary perspective on philosophical questions ranging from art and urban planning to love, happiness, and beauty while delivering first-hand advice on topics such as:

The secret to what makes a great locationHow the lessons of Central Park can inform your design philosophyHow the Handshake Philosophy can change the way you think about businessWhat happens when someone offers $3 million more for a property you are buyingWhat Puccini's La Boheme can teach us about chance and opportunityHow to succeed in business without losing your mind or selling your soul

An intimate blend of memoir and business strategy, Real Estate, A Love Story is a guide for those shaping their own paths and anyone who believes in human, value-driven enterprise.