Most days a bunch of fellows mostly around my age meet at a local bar/restaurant to eat and chat. There is a core of us numbering about a dozen or so that turn up typically in clusters of from 2 to 9 with an occasional dozen. Today about ten turned up.
First topic was real estate investment about a specific property which was a failed investment which got about 50% constructed before they ran out of steam having failed to secure adequate financing to finish the job ...(how does that happen?) Current estimated market values ranged from $150K to "I would not take it unless it were free". It seems that the local Architect (not me) got together a small group of his (now ex) friends and before running out of money managed to spend about (supposedly) $1.5M adding about 40 units to a rather elegant 1800's home with turrets and many fireplaces and leaded glass windows. The design unfortunately (we all agreed) was botched in multiple ways....poor layout and poor aesthetics coupled with poor construction details.
Second story line was a local builder developer who is old enogh to know better.....
He started out modestly working in a local factory, and went into business as a builder then a developer. He had a family with some kids and a wife that he "ourgrew" and divorced. It came out over the last month or so, a little each day, that:
a. his first divorce settlement cost him over 1.5 M to his first ex.
b. His legal fees for that one were over 100K.
c. It was his fault (judging by his other stories I suspect infidelity).
d. He really got screwed in the judgement because the Judge is a real @#$%&* head.
e. He remarried a woman 15 years his junior.
f. he screwed up again.
g. He is now in the process of getting another divorce (though they still date) !?
h. Oh yes, did I mention he did not bother with a Pre-nuptial agreement?
I have little patience with men who are unfaithful to their wive(s).....but I guess what makes me chuckle the most is that in telling these stories about himself I am pretty sure he thinks we will be impressed with his (financial....sexual?) prowess.