A Discussion with Vijay Mehra eqt About the Nature of the Global Real Estate Industry
Vijay Mehra eqt has been a successful general management, real estate, and property investment advisor for more than 30 years. Although he currently negotiates the purchase and sale of properties across three continents—Asia, North America, and Europe—he spent the first portion of his career in the United Kingdom.
In his youth, Vijay took great pains to make sure he had a well-rounded education. He studied the arts, finance, and economics in post-secondary school, achieving top grades. Upon graduating, he quickly found his niche in advisory work, developing a passion for the discipline while connecting businesses and individuals with properties suitable for their needs. In addition to this, he has also developed a general management strategy and advisory role over the years, gaining a reputation for wise counsel among serious business people in many sectors of the economy.
Along with his wife, Vijay Mehra eqt began operating independently in the mid-2000s, and has since developed many partnerships with industry leaders and CEOs, using his considerable abilities to assist them in finding, developing, and developing new properties. Now operating out of the United States, Vijay Mehra eqt specializes in helping his clients with every facet pertaining to their management, property investment, and real estate business needs. He is widely-known to have a special talent for identifying and acquiring undervalued properties.
What do you love most about the industry you are in?
Every real estate deal is different from the one before it. No two are alike. I think that helps to keep me on my toes and engaged. It’s actually quite exciting.
What would you tell others looking to get into your industry?
You can never conduct too much research into a property before making an offer to purchase it. Use every avenue of investigation that’s available to learn as much as you can. After all, generally speaking, you’ll be dealing with millions of dollars of client money with each transaction! For the sake of your professional reputation and your firm’s livelihood, you have to be as sure as you possibly can that your recommendations are right.
What keeps you motivated?
Aside from providing a certain standard of living for myself and my wife, I think the thing that most motivates me is simply aiding my clients with their needs, all the while steadily growing the business.
What is the biggest lesson you have learned managing your business?
Although clients may seek me out because of my reputation for finding undervalued properties in Asia, North America, and Europe, as well as my ability to negotiate favorable contracts, they stay with me because of the fact that I actively cultivate my professional relationships. It took me a few years to learn this lesson, but long-term business relations require some attention. You don’t necessarily have to wine and dine a client, but you do have to check in regularly and ask about their needs.
If you could change one thing you did in the beginning of your career what would it be?
I was, admittedly, too conservative when it came to expanding the business when I was younger. In retrospect, I confined the area of my operations to only the United Kingdom for far too long. If I could change anything from the early part of my career, I would’ve branched out internationally—at least to the European continent—much sooner.
How do you maintain a work life balance?
I’m one of those lucky few people who is actually able to work alongside their significant other. Among other things, this enables us to see each other a great deal. Although we each travel for business from time to time, we’re never deprived of each other’s company for too long. I will also say that we do our best to separate our professional endeavors from our private life together. We make sure that, barring emergencies with the company, our home time is home time and disconnected from the business. We also take at least one long vacation each year in order to recharge, which is invaluable when it comes to maintaining work life balance.
What traits do you possess that make you a successful leader?
I’m very careful, but when the right opportunity comes along, I do not hesitate. I’m not risk-averse, but I’m also not irresponsible. I know how to use leverage in a negotiation. But most of all—and what all of these things add up to, taken as whole—I know how to produce for my clients. That is the fundamental skill that I possess on which the entire business rests.
What is one piece of advice that you have never forgotten?
A mentor of mine once told me something that always stuck with me. He said, “In this particular business, only two things matter: negotiating a solid deal for every transaction and client relations. If you focus almost all of your efforts on those two areas, you will inevitably achieve success.” I’ve taken this wisdom to heart over the decades, and the results have been undeniably good.
What is the biggest life lesson you have learned?
The biggest life lesson I’ve learned is that more goes into making a well-rounded person than simply making money and being good at your job. Family is important. Education is important. Health is important. Rest and relaxation is important. Above all else, treating your fellow human beings with dignity and respect, no matter their situation or station in life, is important.
Outside of work, what defines you as a person?
I love to travel and I love to read. My lifelong personal goal is to constantly broaden my mind and expand my knowledge.
Where do you see you and your company in five years?
I think we will have doubled our client list. Actually, barring any truly unforeseen events, I’m quite certain of it. Business is booming!