“This is the second deal I’ve done with Palmo; I trust them. They’re fair and honest people, and I’m working closely with them every step of the way.”
Erez Katz’s story doesn’t begin with an investor weighing whether to make his first overseas investment, but rather with an investor who had already gone through the process and chose to do it again. After purchasing a property through Palmo, Erez returned to the company to make a second deal—a decision he says was based on the trust he had built in the people, the service, and the way things were actually handled.
For Erez, investing in overseas real estate isn’t just about the property shown in the floor plan or photos. When a deal is done in another country, identifying the people leading it is of paramount importance to him. He wanted to know that the team he was working with would act with integrity, keep their word, and stand by him even after the deal was signed.
A pivotal moment in the process occurred during a private tour of Athens. Erez decided to visit the property and see it with his own eyes, rather than relying on an organized tour arranged by the company. This direct encounter with the reality on the ground allowed him to compare what he had been shown remotely with what had actually been built—and, in his words, this alignment reinforced the confidence that later led him to make another purchase.
Erez's Story in a Nutshell
- Investor Type: Returning Investor
- Number of transactions recorded: Two transactions via Palmo
- Investment Destination: Greece
- Inspection he conducted himself: a visit to the property during a private trip to Athens
- What was important to him: honesty, trustworthiness, transparency, and a connection with the people behind the deal
- What Built Trust: The Alignment Between the Photos and Floor Plans and the Actual Property
- What characterized the support: service and regular updates throughout the process
A second transaction is viewed from a different perspective
In the first deal, the investor does not yet know how the relationship will unfold once the decision has been made. He can get a sense of the company, review the data, and talk with the team, but a significant portion of the trust is built only as the process moves forward: Are updates being provided? Are questions being answered? And does what’s happening on the ground align with what was presented at the outset?
When Erez was considering another purchase, he no longer relied solely on his first impression. He now had actual experience working with Palmo. He knew the people, had experienced their service, and had been following the progress of his first property. The decision to proceed with a second transaction was made after he already had a personal point of reference for the process.
In this regard, Erez’s story differs from that of a client who describes the impression he got during the initial meeting. Erez was able to assess the relationship over time, see how the team operated after the contract was signed, and decide whether the experience he gained justified, in his view, continuing the partnership.
As far as Erez is concerned, people are part of the deal
Erez emphasizes that one of the most important things for him in business is knowing who the people are with whom he works. In overseas real estate, where the investor is not physically present at the property on a regular basis and does not meet all the local parties in person, this question becomes a particularly crucial factor in the decision-making process.
According to him, he was looking for decent, honest people with whom he could move forward. His trust in Peleg Yariv, the owner and CEO of Palmo, and in the company’s team went beyond just a gut feeling. He put them to the test during their first transaction, and that became one of the main reasons he chose to work with Palmo again.
“This is the second deal I’ve done with Palmo; I trust them. They’re fair and honest people, and I’m working closely with them every step of the way.”
Erez’s quote illustrates that, as far as he was concerned, the second purchase was not based solely on the opportunity to acquire another property in Greece. It also reflected a decision to continue his relationship with the team he already knew and with whom he felt comfortable moving forward.
The Private Tour of the Property in Athens
One of the most significant moments in Erez’s story took place during a private trip to Athens. Instead of settling for the photos, plans, and updates he received, he chose to visit the property himself and see what was happening on the ground.
The visit was not part of an official tour or a scheduled meeting to present the project to him. It was an independent inspection he conducted while he was already in town. For Erez, being able to see the property firsthand gave him the opportunity to compare the information he had received with reality.
According to him, what he saw at the property matched the photos and floor plans he had been shown earlier. This consistency was significant because it linked the promises and updates he had received remotely to a result he could verify for himself.
When Pictures and Plans Meet Reality
In an overseas real estate transaction, much of the process takes place while the property owner is in Israel. Photos, floor plans, and videos serve as tools that allow the owner to track progress and understand what the property is supposed to look like.
For Erez, the visit to Athens was the moment when these materials were put to the test. The property was no longer just a plan or a photo sent to him, but a real place he could see and examine for himself. He said that seeing how everything lined up reinforced his sense that what had been discussed throughout the process was also being realized on the ground.
This point is important in his story because trust is not built solely on personal relationships with the team. It grew stronger when Erez saw that the information he received and the reality he encountered were not two different stories. For him, the connection between the human touch and actual performance was a significant foundation for continuing the relationship.
The updates that allowed him to keep track even from Israel
In addition to his independent visit to Athens, Erez highlights the service and updates he received throughout the investment period. When a property is located in another country, an investor cannot visit every week to check on progress firsthand. Ongoing communication with the team therefore becomes the primary way for him to stay involved in the process.
The updates he received allowed him to understand what was happening even while he was in Israel. For him, it wasn’t just about receiving information at key points, but about the sense that someone was continuing to oversee the deal and keeping him in the loop.
This approach complemented what Erez had observed during his visit to Athens. The updates provided a continuous stream of information from afar, and the independent visit allowed him to directly verify the results on the ground. Anyone interested in delving deeper into the operational aspects of post-purchase liaison and oversight can also read about remote overseas property management.
What built the trust that led to another purchase?
Erez’s trust wasn’t built on a single event. It developed from several factors that came together along the way: getting to know the people behind the company, the service he received after signing the contract, the regular updates, and the alignment he saw between the plans and the property itself.
Each of these elements answered a different question. His interaction with the team answered the question of who he was working with. The updates helped him understand how the process was progressing. His independent visit to the property allowed him to see whether the information he had received matched reality. Only after gaining this experience did he decide to make a second transaction.
That is why the repeat purchase is a key detail in his story. It is not just a positive endorsement of the service, but an action he took after he had already become familiar with how Palmo operates. Erez didn’t have to imagine what the process would be like the second time around; he went into it with the experience he gained from the first transaction.
What can we learn from Erez's decision to return?
A repeat purchase is a strong indication of the trust that has been built between the customer and the company, because it results from actual experience and not just from a presentation or an introductory meeting. In Erez’s case, the decision to make another purchase came after he received service, followed the process, and saw the property in Athens for himself.
However, Erez’s account focuses on his experience with the process, the level of service, and the alignment between the information presented to him and the actual conditions on the ground. He does not specify the purpose of each transaction, the lease model, or the financial results of the first property. Therefore, one should not infer any unpublished yield figures or performance metrics from the second purchase alone.
The main significance of his decision lies elsewhere: having already seen how Palmo behaves toward him, Erez decided he wanted to continue the relationship. For anyone considering a real estate investment in Greece, this story illustrates just how much consistency between what is said, what is documented, and what actually happens can influence a long-term relationship.
Who can relate to Erez's story?
Erez’s story may resonate with investors who have already purchased one property abroad and are now considering whether to make another purchase. At this stage, the set of considerations is not the same as it was for the first purchase. In addition to evaluating the new property, there is already a previous experience to draw upon—for better or for worse.
Even those who are about to close their first deal can relate to the importance Erez places on the people behind the investment. The documents, data, and plans are important, but in a deal managed remotely, it’s also crucial to be able to get answers, track progress, and feel that the information provided to the client matches what’s actually happening on the ground.
Erez chose to conduct his own independent assessment when he arrived in Athens. His visit did not replace the guidance he had received, but rather added a firsthand perspective and reinforced the impression that had developed throughout the process.
What prompted Erez Katz to make a second deal with Palmo?
Erez chose to return for another deal after the trust established during the first transaction was strengthened through the service, updates, and relationship with the Palmo team. For him, the people’s integrity and the ability to move forward with them along the way were key factors in his decision.
How did Erez inspect the property himself?
During a private trip to Athens, Erez went to view the property on his own, without the official escort. According to him, what he saw on site matched the photos and floor plans he had received, and this confirmation bolstered his confidence in the process.
Are you considering buying your first or another property in Greece?
Erez’s experience illustrates how a connection forged during the first transaction can develop into a long-term relationship. For him, the combination of honest people, regular updates, and the ability to verify that the reality matched what was presented to him was the basis for his decision to purchase another property.
At an introductory meeting with the Palmo team, you can learn about the projects currently available, discuss your investment goals, and explore which options might be suitable for first-time property buyers in Greece or those considering expanding an existing investment.
