Yannick Laclau is CEO and founder of Properazzi, an international property Web site that aims to connect real estate agents and developers with new buyers.
Properazzi is now open to agents from the U.S., Dubai, South Africa and Mexico, as well as across Europe and India. The company plans to continue expanding into new locations this year.
Laclau is passionate about opening up the world of real estate through online technologies.
He will speak at Real Estate Connect in San Francisco, July 23-25, 2008.
Laclau answered a set of questions posed by Inman News:
What do you see happening in the real estate market in 2008?
International transactions will continue to grow. New opportunities will arise in niche markets. And the migration of advertising from print to online will accelerate.
What advice do you have to help real estate agents and brokers get through this market?
Think carefully about the effectiveness and distribution of your marketing spend. Get creative — look for buyers in new places.
What was your first job?
Management consulting in Brazil.
What sparked the idea to start your company?
I was doing marketing work for Spanish real estate agents and realizing there was a real opportunity to give them a new platform — to build Properazzi.
What’s been your biggest challenge in running the business?
Recruiting! An ongoing challenge.
If you had one thing to do over again in your life, what would it be?
I wish I’d bought real estate in Barcelona when I first arrived in 1999 — price appreciation since then has been crazy.
What style of home do you live in and when did you buy it?
I live in a city-center apartment — modern on the inside with a gorgeous, typically Catalan "modernista" façade. I bought my first house in 2002.
What worries keep you awake at night?
Inflation!
What lesson did you learn in the last year?
Listen to the advice of your VC!
What would your second career choice be?
Blogger, obviously.
What kind of music do you listen to?
All sorts — Brazilian music is a favorite.
Who is your hero?
Arthur C. Clarke.
Hear Laclau speak at Real Estate Connect in San Francisco, July 23-25, 2008. The conference program and registration are available online via the Connect Web site.
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