The Market Seen from the Street: Perspective on the Second Quarter of 2024. Hello Summer!

As I had the opportunity to write to you before, 2024 has been a positive year.

When I analyze the results of the 4th Quarter of 2023 and compare them with the 1st Quarter of 2024, I see a growth of around 47% (Suggested Article: The market seen from the street: perspective of the first quarter of 2024).

The second quarter of 2024 maintained the upward trend of the first, consolidating the “Emergency Plan” conceived at the end of 2023.

In summary, the 1st semester of 2024 recorded a growth of 78% compared to the same period in 2028.

Is there an “obvious” reason for this evolution, or was it mere luck?

I confess I’m not sure. However, I feel that by stopping to think only as an entrepreneur and deciding to “apply” to think as a businessman, I assumed all the risks that this responsibility entails. The feeling is strange. A mix of fear, courage, and a lot of focus on the quality and differentiation of the services provided.

Analyzing the past, I believe that many times I lacked the courage to take more risks. I was afraid that my “strange ideas” would put other people at risk. The truth is, I also got tired of hearing “that’s not possible” and was afraid to go against the odds.

When we live in the constant “RAT RACE”, without “time” (or is it courage?) to stop and think strategically, we create the perfect conditions for failure.

The fog grows, and the vision becomes blurred. Moreover, we always think that “stopping is the end of the world” because no one prepares us or teaches us to overcome failures and setbacks.

Perhaps for this reason, we are not prepared to accept, rethink, reorganize, and restart.

I have been making an effort to try to improve my mindset. I have learned to accept failures and trust in well-defined processes. It is essential to invest time in consolidating processes.

“Failure,” which I hated so much, has become a principle.

Today, “failing” is part of the business model. If there is no failure, it could mean that there is too much comfort. There is no evolution or optimization. Comfort can be a relentless enemy for those who aspire to lead teams and be a successful businessman with differentiating results.

After this extensive introduction, I share the summary of the 2nd Quarter of 2024.

Plan, Test, Improve, and Consolidate were the words that best define the trajectory of the last 3 months.

Finally, we defined the specific services we propose to provide within the scope of real estate consultancy (Services).

Fortunately, we had the opportunity to put them into practice. Here they are.

1. We advised clients in a fully personalized manner, taking into account their specific needs. Among the processes developed, we highlight clients with the need to enhance their real estate assets and clients in need of support in acquiring real estate assets with tenants in vulnerable situations or with lifelong contracts.

2. We developed real estate project feasibility analyses for clients from north to south of the country. Maia, Lisbon, Setúbal, Sesimbra, Évora, and Lagos were the locations in focus.

   Additionally, we also had the opportunity to develop real estate project monitoring reports, with the purpose of analyzing and reporting potential risks, suggesting the respective mitigation measures.

3. We initiated the real estate development process of two buildings located in Lisbon. Creating the development strategy, coordinating, and supporting the decision-making of the property owners were the main functions assumed.

• Project 1: Renovation of a building comprising 8 apartments and 2 shops for the rental market;

• Project 2: Renovation and expansion of a residential building for permanent residence;

It was an undoubtedly “heterogeneous” quarter.

I am sure we delivered a lot of value. There is a sense of duty fulfilled and the responsibility to continue evolving, optimizing processes, and improving the customer experience.

We are building the path that will allow us to evolve progressively. Growth will be a consequence of the implemented processes.

As Ray Dalio describes, “everything starts with the interaction between independent thinkers with audacious goals.”

In this chapter, the results were exceptional.

1. We consolidated business relationships with Hugo Laranjeira (LinkedIn) and Miguel Neves (LinkedIn). These “guys” will always be fundamental pieces in the business machinery.

   Hugo has a heart of gold and diversified talent. He will do great things in our market, I have no doubt.

   Miguel is a true master of design and has a perfectionist attitude in everything he does. He will go far.

2. We entrusted the technological processes to Nuno Poço (LinkedIn), a highly skilled professional with an extraordinary work capacity.

   Nuno has enormous capabilities and is a self-taught person who loves to implement and test. As his autonomy grows, the results demonstrate his resilience.

3. We significantly strengthened our business relationships with Miguel Amaral (LinkedIn).

   Besides his excellent professional skills and sense of ethics, Miguel is a distinguished human being who always answers(ed) the phone and helps(ed) in difficult times.

4. Recently, we welcomed Pedro Almeida (LinkedIn), who became the first full-time employee. His talent, competence, and execution capacity are well above average.

   In a very short time, he became a huge asset to the ecosystem of Independent Thinkers with Audacious Goals.

I must confess that it is a privilege to be surrounded by people with similar values, abundant talent, and a strong will to succeed.

I am also aware that we have not achieved anything yet, and the path to reaching our goals is long and tumultuous.

As they say, “fortune favors the bold.” Let’s get to work.

See you soon,

André Casaca