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> NewsInterview with Anton Sinke‘In 2009 we're going back to basics’ ‘I think the world order – or at least that of the financial world – is going to change dramatically in the next few years.’ These are the words of Anton Sinke, director of CasaMundus and Avatar Master. We were talking with him about his vision of the world and his plans for the new year. Interview by: Adriaan Verbeek
We met him in his office overlooking the Sloterplas. ‘I still enjoy the view every day. I think it was a very good idea to choose this spot.’ Anton Sinke gives a satisfied nod, and laughs. ‘It might not be a prime location, such as the Zuidas, but I do get positive vibrations from it. I don't attach much importance to external show, and high rents have to be passed on to clients.’ This sets the tone for the conversation.
What do you think about the current credit crunch?
‘I agree with Herman Wijffels (former Executive Director of the World Bank – ed.) that the credit crunch will have a positive effect. There will be changes in the field of financial supervision that will prevent such a crisis from occurring again in the future. In that respect, we're going back to basics. In my opinion, complex financial products will be banned. Moreover, this crisis, which is already becoming a global economic crisis, offers us a good opportunity for doing a lot of things differently. The credit crunch offers us chances with regard to solving the major problems we have been facing over the last few years, such as climate change and the global food crisis.’
Do you think the credit crunch is an isolated phenomenon, or is there something more to it?
‘In my view, the credit crunch and everything surrounding it is due to the fact that we are getting ever more distant from ourselves. External appearances have become more important than the inner life, money is more important than happiness, self-interest more important than altruism. The feeling is missing nowadays. To my mind, it is not right that a few percent of the world's population should own the vast majority of the world. And that this small percentage should not care about the others. We give aid to corrupt regimes out of our own considered self-interest. Professor Heertje calls the credit crunch a ‘godsend.’ I agree with him. I think that the world is going in a different direction. A better, more humane direction, with less corruption. We can see that the dividing line between science and religion is becoming more and more blurred, so we now know that our thoughts create our reality. That change in mass consciousness leads to a different world. The world is changing and I am changing with it.’
We must talk more about that another day. Back to the reality of everyday life: what effect is the credit crunch having on the leisure property market?
‘In my long career as an estate agent and property consultant, I have already lived through several crises. The current crisis may be rather different, but once again we'll see that investing in real estate proves to be a good investment in the long term. Incidentally, this will differ from country to country, depending on the price pressure in recent years. The combination of the right bricks and mortar and the right location will retain their value now, as they have in the past. Some air may be let out of the price bubble, but I have been expecting that correction and it will be good for first-time buyers, who are currently struggling to get a foothold in the housing market. The same principles apply to the leisure market as for the housing market, but with the understanding that we are talking about a luxury product. A second home is not just part of the basic package. The market will therefore become a little more cautious and a little thinner. But remember that the current crisis is primarily psychological. The money is certainly still there. And in times of crisis, there is always a group of people who wish to distinguish themselves from the others. Buying a second home is not just a good investment, it is also a way of distinguishing yourself from other people. And it is one of the few investments which you have an influence on and feel an affinity with. Two things which will become increasingly important.’
On your profile page on LinkedIn, you say that you are working on a strategy for 2009. Can you tell us something about it?
‘As I said, the market for leisure property will become thinner. Partly because it is becoming more difficult to finance the purchase of a second home. I am currently working on a plan to set up a network of reliable and professional intermediaries in – primarily – Northern Europe. In this way we hope to expand the market for the projects we have in our portfolio. We have already made the first contacts, and I must say that the reactions have been extremely positive.’
On your website it says that your work is based on the three P’s: people, planet and prosperity. What does this actually mean in practice?
‘The three P’s are actually about corporate social responsibility. The Dutch Corporate Governance code is part of that. As far as CasaMundus is concerned, this means in concrete terms that first of all we wish to put people at the heart of all our actions. In short, with us "the customer is king", irrespective of whether the customer is an individual buyer who is looking for a property that must fully meet his or her requirements, or a developer that wants to market his project in the best possible way. We consider both to be equally important. Another aspect is that we only want to sell second home projects that can pass the test of sustainability. When we are offered a project, we look into that expressly. Such a project must, for example, be part of the surrounding area. It should contribute to the prosperity of the local community.’
That's a good attitude. But do you really think it will work?
‘It won't work in every case, but our experiences with CasaMundus Consultancy, the department that supports leisure projects from the initial concept up to the final marketing and sales, have been positive. For example, we succeeded in convincing a development club to adopt the cradle2cradle principle (see, for example: www.c2c.duurzaamheid.nl - ed.) in the practical development of a project. This project is now, unfortunately, at a standstill, but all the same. Of course, not every project can be influenced, but where we can do so, we will certainly do our best. My personal involvement in the world, however, is so great that I decided to put my knowledge and inventiveness to work in (leisure) projects in third world countries. This is all about sustainable developments that also contribute to the prosperity of the people in these countries. I have resolved to invest a third of my time in this type of project.’
Final question: where does this degree of commitment come from?
‘In recent years, I have seen the world around me, especially the world of real estate, become increasingly callous. At a certain moment I decided that I no longer wanted to participate in this rat race. I could not, however, quite put my finger on what I wanted to do and I saw no possibility of escaping from the maelstrom. It was then that I came into contact with Avatar®, a (self-)awareness programme that enabled me to rediscover myself. I've learned to tune my consciousness to what I want to achieve. My motto has become: with positive thinking we can create our own positive reality. And that is a reality that I personally experience every day.’
Anton Sinke
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