Page 29 - Intra Muros June Issue 2025

GARDENING

But Munger wasn’t just an armchair real
estate philosopher. Long before becoming
vice-chairman of Berkshire Hathaway,
he rolled up his sleeves and jumped into
property development.

In the late 1950s, through his law
practice, Munger met Otis Booth. By 1961,
Booth brought Munger into a probate
settlement that soon turned into a business
partnership. Together they developed
apartments next to Caltech [the California
Institute of Technology, a private research
university known for its engineering &
science programmes], each investing $100
000.

The payoff? A cool $500 000 apiece – a
400% profit.

They didn’t stop there. They kept building,
learning along the way that single-level
condos sold like hotcakes and, yes, buyers
were wooed by beautiful landscaping. The
lush landscaping became the not-so-secret
sauce. At the Berkshire Hathaway shareholders’ tile trend, take Munger’s advice: “Plant
meeting last week, Buffett reflected on his some trees; your property and your wallet
By the time Munger wrapped up his real longtime partner’s passion for property. will thank you.”
estate adventures, he’d turned $100 000 “Charlie enjoyed real estate transactions,
into $1.4 million. And that was back when and he actually did a fair number of them So, Silver Lakes residents, before you send
a million bucks could really buy something. in the last five years of his life,” Buffett your next request to remove a tree or fell
said. “But he was playing a game that was that tree in your yard, consider the article
So why does landscaping pack such a interesting to him.” above. You are not only degrading your
punch? Simple. First impressions sell property by getting rid of trees, you’re also
homes. A well-manicured yard signals care, And while Munger eventually focused more taking money away from your selling price!
quality and kerb appeal – the trifecta that on stocks, he never stopped believing in the
hooks buyers before they even step inside. power of real estate – and the magic of a Save a tree, plant a tree – it’s the right thing
Studies back this up, with some showing well-planted tree. to do.
that great landscaping can boost a home’s
value by up to 30%, according to [US home So, before you tear out that perfectly good Corlia Mathews
services website] Angie’s List. countertop or splurge on another bathroom Environmental Committee

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