The wine collection of Marcus Hiles is the stuff of legends. The successful real estate developer and investor has been collecting wines from sought-after vintages for many years, and his personal storage facility is affectionately known as the Magnificent Cellar. Marcus has made a career out of identifying business opportunities, and his skill in this realm extends to his impeccable taste in wines.
He has offered his insights into his successes, helping others to achieve success through business investments. For young investors, his business acumen and ability to capitalize on emerging trends has made him one of the most respected mentors. He knows that companies want to hear from potential investors, getting information about why one is choosing to make an investment with them. By doing background research on the company before investing, those companies and investors stand to forge successful partnerships.
Companies seeking investors will also want to know something about one’s track record. Prior investment histories help companies to understand what an investor brings to the partnership beyond funding. Illustrating past successes and identifying areas for improvement help to settle any questions about the investment itself.
Being clear about goals is critical in the discussion about investments. Companies young investors wish to help fund must understand that there is a timeframe involved where return on the investment is expected. Again, research is vital to this part of the investment process. Coming up with realistic figures on the return, backed by diligent research, can ensure success for both parties.
In wines as well as in real estate, Mr. Hiles has studied the market carefully. He has seen emerging trends, such as the demand for luxury housing in the Dallas metro area, and has moved to accommodate those demands in his real estate ventures. In the wine collecting world, he has earned a reputation for buying desirable vintages as soon as they become available, then storing them in his cellar until the market is ready for their sale. In 2010, he opened his cellar for a wine auction in partnership with Sotheby’s Hong Kong, the leader in high-end wine auctions. 6500 bottles, or about 20% of his total holdings, went to the auction. Initial pre-sale value estimates hovered just over $3 million. At the end of the two-day sale event, the take was a staggering $13.8 million, including auction fees. This set a new record for Sotheby’s Hong Kong, which surpassed its New York auction unit and positioned the auctioneer as the preeminent wine seller in the world.
As far as real estate goes, few investors have achieved the level of success that Marcus has. He is the founder and CEO of two development firms, Mansions Custom Homes and Western Rim Property Services. As companies moved to Texas to take advantage of low business tax rates and an available pool of talented employees, demand for more luxurious living accommodations dominated the real estate market. Mansions targeted homeowners, developing spacious estates filled with custom finishes and breathtaking architectural appointments. Western Rim, on the other hand, focused on the rental market, developing properties for young business professionals. The company is now responsible for over 25,000 rental units across Texas and including apartments, condominiums, and townhouses. Marcus did his research and made smart investments that brought him unrivaled success, both in his real estate ventures as well as in collecting wines from storied French vintages. His skill and insight can help others find similar success as well.
