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How Paul Kaulesar’s real estate journey from Queens to West Palm Beach offers lessons for London entrepreneurs

How Paul Kaulesar’s real estate journey from Queens to West Palm Beach offers lessons for London entrepreneurs

Property investment in London has always had a competitive edge, and Paul Kaulesar’s journey from the boroughs of New York to the buzzing market of West Palm Beach offers fresh, globally relevant insights. Born and raised in Queens, Paul grew up in a household where bricks and mortar weren’t just home—they were business. His parents flipped properties for a living. His mother hunted for deals, and his father turned fixer-uppers into homes that sold.

London’s own property market, with its Victorian terraces and hidden mews, often relies on sharp eyes and gut instinct. Paul’s early lessons in identifying undervalued properties and understanding neighbourhood change could easily apply to up-and-coming areas like Woolwich or Peckham. “It’s never just about the building,” he says. “It’s about how people will use the space in five years.”

Paul’s story reminds us that real estate success doesn’t require skyscrapers or million-pound budgets. “You can start with what you know,” he explains. “Look at how your own city is growing. That’s how I learned—just by watching the people and the changes happening around me.” It’s this people-focused strategy that gives his approach global relevance, even for young entrepreneurs in the UK.

From Family Fix-Ups to Florida Closings

Paul’s real estate foundation began at home. He watched his parents buy run-down properties, renovate them, and sell at a profit. He learned how to look past cosmetic flaws and see potential. That early exposure to housing markets stayed with him.

By the time Paul finished high school in Royal Palm Beach, Florida, he knew he wanted to be in business. He joined the Entrepreneurship Program at Palm Beach State College. “College gave me a language for what I already saw at home,” he says. “It helped me think bigger.”

It was also during this time that Paul developed a passion for numismatics, the study of coins and currency. His attention to detail earned him the title of Numismatic Scholar in 2020 from the American Numismatic Association. “Collecting coins teaches you to see value in things others overlook,” he says. That same mindset helped him spot property deals others ignored.

 

Paul Kaulesar

Learning Strategy at Harvard and Putting It to Work

Paul continued building on his practical knowledge by enrolling in Harvard Business School’s online programmes. He completed the Disruptive Strategy course in 2023 and Negotiation Mastery in 2024. “Disruption isn’t about tearing things down,” he says. “It’s about finding a smarter way to do things with fewer resources.”

The lessons stuck. Paul applies them in his current role as a real estate broker at OnCall Realty. He’s known for staying calm under pressure and getting deals across the finish line. “Negotiation is 80% listening,” he explains. “If you listen long enough, people tell you exactly what they need.”

His approach would work just as well in East London’s crowded rental market as it does in South Florida. “The emotions behind the sale are universal,” he adds. “Everyone wants to feel like they’re making a smart decision.”

The Mental Game: Powerlifting, Boxing, and Business

Outside of real estate, Paul is deeply committed to powerlifting and boxing. He trains regularly and sees both sports as mental workouts as much as physical ones. “Lifting weights teaches you how to grind through discomfort. Boxing teaches you timing,” he says. “In business, those lessons matter.”

He draws parallels between the gym and the negotiation table. “If you’re too aggressive, you lose the room. But if you’re too passive, you lose the deal. Same as in boxing—it’s about reading the other person and staying ready.”

Dominoes, Strategy, and Community

Paul’s other favourite pastime is playing dominoes. Not just for fun—but for focus. “It’s a game of memory, patience, and psychology,” he says. “When you sit across from someone for hours, you learn how they think.”

He believes dominoes—popular in Caribbean and Latin American communities—is a perfect metaphor for property investment. “You have to play the long game. A single move doesn’t win the table. It’s how you string decisions together.”

He still plays with friends in Florida and says the conversations around the table often drift to real estate, local politics, or charity work—topics he cares deeply about.

Giving Back to the Community

Paul is an active donor to over a dozen charities, from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to the Sankara Eye Foundation. “Giving keeps you grounded,” he says. “When you succeed, the best thing you can do is widen the path for someone else.”

He doesn’t publicise his donations but sees it as part of his responsibility. “Real estate gave me choices. I want to make sure others have the same.”

Paul Kaulesar

What London Can Learn from Paul Kaulesar

Paul Kaulesar’s journey is about more than just closing deals. It’s about recognising value—in property, people, and quiet details. His mix of street smarts, structured learning, and mental discipline could inspire any young entrepreneur, whether in Stratford or Southall, to look again at the world around them.

“You don’t need to be flashy,” Paul says. “You just need to pay attention.”

His story is a reminder that local experience—when matched with curiosity and grit—can travel far, even across oceans.

 

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