Playing for Advantage, Guarding the Flank
“Big assets, big cities, big capital, and big competition. The U.S. is more in favor than the rest of the world right now.”
The game of chess is not a game of chance, but requires mastery of a complex set of skills that are both art and science. A player needs to be alert, equally aware of the strengths and weaknesses of his own position and that of his opponent. A plan is needed, most assuredly. The number of possible games that can develop, however, exceeds the number of atoms in the universe. Hence, flexibility within the plan is critical. Each move has a short-term impact and is also a step in positioning for a victorious endgame.
Like chess, the real estate playing field requires an artful mix of skills, tactics, and strategies. A chessboard is limited to just 64 squares and is two-dimensional. Real estate’s domain covers a lot more space, and requires thinking across economic, social, political, and technological dimensions.
Beginners may often extend themselves swiftly and aggressively into the fray, seeking quick advantage but overlooking the impact of countermeasures that are obvious to more experienced players. Strategic thinkers see beyond the “next move” and anticipate the development of a series of moves that, taken together, create a more powerful control of the board.
As we consider the emerging trends going into 2017, we try to look two or three moves ahead in the fascinating and competitive field that is the real estate industry. And, since no single move can be considered in isolation, it will be important to see the pattern linking several trends as they evolve interactively.
