Rocking the Casbah
U.S. entrepreneurs David Kellar and Brian Smith cracked the Moroccan property market. What do you think about Fez Properties and its bridging of cultures?
From Jo, Little Rock Dear Reb from Little Rock:
Before you move to Morocco-do them a favor. Enroll in Arabic, Berber or French language classes. Much easier to do business with them on a full time basis if you speak their language.
From Saul, Berkeley, CA The business ethics, models and customer service that Americans have developed, should be implemented internationally. The success of Kellar and Smith is not in Morocco. The success is in their determination and desire to truly help the client. This is the base of the American entrepreneur. If you have the opportunity to go to another country and begin a business, then take the opportunity!
From Scott B. Hyattsville MD OK…OK… great small business model. I have Moroccan friends here in Hyattsville, and I plan to quiz them about the Moroccan real estate market. I also plan to visit, and evaluate real estate investment ideas. But wait a minute, one big question everybody, why are Moroccan natives settling in U.S.A.????
Furthermore, I believe the same business model will work on the many American Indian "reservations" across our great country. Or if you feel less adventurous, and you cannot stomach the depressing results of years of economic,social and physical genocide perpetrated by local, state, and federal "government policies" against the first Americans, you may try investing your American dollars renovating homes in, say, New Orleans first.
From REB, Little Rock I'm envious. I've done a lot of traveling over the past five years and of all the places I've been, Morocco was by far the most spectacular. It is the only place besides the U.S. I would consider living. I think I'm going to try to use this for inspiration and think of a healty way to do business in Morocco.
From greensboro, nc If the Moroccans are okay with these two Americans setting up a business there, then so be it. We Americans do not know everything, but there is nothing wrong with doing business with other cultures, as long as they give back to the community where they are. Not everyone who lives in Morocco are happy with their conditions, i personally know a few who are very unhappy with the severe lack of opportunities over there. If business is done right, then America can finally help a country get more opportunities instead of losing them due to American greed.
From Mary, Orlando, Florida Anthony:
In that respect you have a good point. The problem is when Americans take over a place the price direction is usually up, not down.
From Anthony, New Jersey US Mary,
Have you ever heard of "Little Italy" or "Little China" in many cities around the US? Or "Little Havana" in Miami? It's not just Americans or Britons that do this.
Lots of people love traveling to these places to get a "slight" glimpse of what another culture is like without the expense of traveling or dealing with culture shocks. I see no harm in this… and if they are refurbishing old damaged buildings, as many of the pictures show, why wouldn't that help the residents?
From Jeff, La Grande, OR I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Morocco for two years and I have a hard time understanding why you would buy a home in Morocco when you can rent an entire apartment in the downtown with amazing views for a week for $30. It would take a lot of vacation trips to make a 650K investment pencil out.
From Rob, Saint Louis MO So what. These guys are making money and friends. What is wrong with that?
From Mary, Orlando, Florida I think Americans should stop ruining the world with their business ideas. Morocco has done fine without us this long. Why is it that Americans think it's cool (British are guilty of this too) to go into other countries and make a splash. I lived in foreign countries for seven years and made it a habit to stay out of their business. All the "self-actualized" got involved in the country and after a while all the locals moved and it was an American enclave. It made me sick.
This is a wonderful example of how respect for other cultures and knowing the importance of speaking someone else's language has benefits. If only more Americans understood the need to speak more than one language.
John