Barry Sternlicht

You go public because you want access to capital in the form of debt and equity.

If I had high-ticker 10 percent financing, which would probably be the market rate, I would have to dump stuff. The interest payments would be killing me.

Properties have different characteristics, like companies, and the market throws up more opportunities because it is inefficient.

I suppose I was a frustrated artist. I like fitting things together, and there are plenty of different ways to do that with real estate.

Pay attention to the big themes because that's what will help you earn ten times your money.

It's cheaper to buy a house and finance it than it is to rent in many markets.

I like to go to my simple cottage by the ocean or, really, any beach!

There has to be a way to live the life you're accustomed to and not sacrifice things. Americans are not very good about sacrificing.

I've been a supporter of green initiatives for years. I've been paying more and more attention to it, you know, with three kids. I thought it was tragic when the Kyoto Protocol was killed by the U.S. It was sort of a call to action.

You can learn everything that there is to know about the industry or the player from the company that is performing better or worse.

I wanted to start a hotel company from scratch.

If it can be profitable to be green, that's just smart business.