How do women in real estate succeed in different countries?

The path of Evgenia Prokazova

Evgenia Prokazova, who works as a sales manager at Bulgaria Avenue, was born in Latvia, where she received her education in public relations. After completing her studies, she soon moved to the UK, intending to further her knowledge in the field. South Africa and Belgium were the next destinations on her life's journey. While exploring new cultures, she met her future husband, which was the main reason for her moving to Bulgaria.

Change of professional activity

Eugenia's initial activity was related to the automotive industry, but soon her interest shifted to real estate. As a result, she founded her own real estate company in Varna.

Working with clients

“I take incredible pleasure in my work because I'm doing something that truly inspires me.I've been in sales for a wide variety of products throughout my life, but it's in real estate that there is a special excitement. We look at every election as if it's for us, as if we're going to settle there,

- says Eugenia. Her goal is to achieve the most positive results for her clients, which is the fundamental principle of her work.

Love for Bulgaria and success in sales

Evgenia notes that her love for Bulgaria plays an important role in her success.“This wonderful country has accepted me as its own, it has amazing people, a warm climate, reasonable prices and excellent prospects for professional growth.Previously the main buyers were Russians, but recently there has been growing interest from citizens of Ukraine, Israel, Germany and the USA. The pandemic has only intensified this interest in Bulgaria from distant countries”,

- she says.

Unique deals

Each transaction has its own unique value for Eugenia, but one recent story impressed her in particular.“I was approached by an intelligent pre-retirement architect who shared his dreams of life and architectural ideas for several hours.He eventually purchased the apartment, and after doing the remodeling, he was able to realize his dream project.”

- Eugenia recalls.

Natalia Zavalishina's experience

Natalia Zavalishina, who is a manager at Distant Property, has also achieved success in the field of foreign real estate. She has worked in this field for many years, having started her career by participating in exhibitions and events dedicated to the housing market in Moscow.

Expansion of professional skills

Gradually, she expanded her competencies and began working in marketing, focusing on:

• residential real estate,
• commercial real estate,
• of suburban real estate,
• secondary market,
• new buildings.

Shifting the focus of the work

Since the mid-2000s, this area has been at the peak of demand in Russia, and Natalia decided to focus exclusively on selling foreign real estate. Many of the transactions she conducts open a new page in the lives of people seeking to find their place abroad.Natalia proudly states that she is ready to help each client realize their dream of owning their own home in another country.

Trends in the foreign real estate market

With the growing interest of Russians in acquiring foreign real estate, there are bright and diverse trends. Many private investors who have apartments and residential houses in Russia are increasingly starting to turn to international offers.

Finding the perfect options for living and vacationing

While companies are exploring foreign markets and investment opportunities, potential buyers are eager to choose the best options for living or vacationing abroad. Resort regions have become particularly attractive, with hundreds of people dreaming of owning apartments or houses by the sea in countries such as:

• Bulgaria
• Turkey
• Montenegro
• Cyprus

More demanding acquirers are looking for an offer in:

• Spain
• Italy
• France
• USA, especially in Miami

Attention is also paid to famous Czech Republic resorts such as Karlovy Vary and Slovenia's Rogaška Slatina.

Investments in construction projects

In addition, in parallel with the purchase of housing, investors are actively contemplating investments in the construction of new facilities. New construction projects attract the greatest interest, while the restoration of old buildings takes a secondary place.

Changing customer preferences

The process of choosing a particular property can vary depending on the preferences of clients, which introduces uncertainty into the range of real estate transactions. For example, Russians who were initially set on buying in Italy sometimes unexpectedly turned their attention to options in Slovenia, choosing houses located just a few kilometers from the Italian border.

In this area, obtaining a residence permit is much easier and the cost of real estate is often lower, making Slovenia a very tempting alternative.

Difficulties in buying a home in Switzerland

In addition, one of the additional factors influencing the choice of buyers were the difficulties associated with the purchase process in Switzerland, where special licenses and work permits are required. These circumstances often pushed potential investors towards Italian properties, especially when it came to families with children studying in Swiss public schools.

In such cases, it is convenient to cross the border, allowing children to sometimes return home on their own.

Cyprus as a strategic choice for families

Cyprus is gradually becoming an increasingly popular option among parents looking to provide their children with a quality education in the UK.Warm climate,affordable living conditionsandavailability of English language schoolsmake Cyprus an attractive destination for families who are planning to relocate.

Julia Vysotskaya's experience

Julia Vysotskaya, who holds the position of Sales Director at Uptrend Homes, has also shown an interest in this rapidly developing market. With a degree in tourism management, she traveled to Turkey in 2006 for an internship and discovered the charms of Alanya.

Thanks to her profession Julia had the opportunity not only to travel to different countries, but also to work in different parts of the world, which gave her the chance to compare the standard of living, many opportunities and the environmental situation in individual countries.

In 2009, she made a strategic decision to buy an apartment in Alanya and finally move to this city. This step was the beginning of a new stage in her life and turned into a successful real estate project abroad. Using her knowledge and experience, she actively assists others in choosing the right place to live, knowing full well how difficult it can be to find the perfect place to live or vacation outside of one's home country.

The beginning of Julia's career in real estate

Since 2016, Julia has been an active player in the real estate market. Initially, she did not plan to make a career in this direction, but when she was looking for her own place to live, she immersed herself in the process and realized how fascinating it was to work with apartments and houses. This spurred her to develop her skills and begin a professional career in real estate.

Key Qualities in Real Estate

Qualities critical in this field include:

• High degree of training
• Thoroughness in the performance of duties
• Patience
• Trust
• Ability to communicate effectively
• Strict adherence to deadlines
• Speed of response to customer requests
• Sincerity

Respect for the client and the ability to listen are essential ingredients for success in this profession.

The amazing story of Julia's life

To illustrate her thoughts, Julia recounts an unusual story that happened in August 2017. On that day, her laptop malfunctioned and, unable to continue working, she decided to spend time outdoors in the garden next to the office, waiting for technical support. At that moment, a couple, a man and a woman, approached her and asked her in Russian where to find the nearest supermarket.

They turned out to be tourists who arrived at a hotel nearby and were late for lunch, so they decided to stock up on food for a snack. In the course of communication, they found out what Yulia was doing and became interested in her life in Turkey.

Opportunities for foreigners

Yulia told them about her company, which offers apartments to foreign buyers. The couple noted that they had repeatedly vacationed in Turkey and even thought about moving permanently, but did not know where to start the process.

They also only had 20,000 euros saved for this purpose, which made them hesitant to participate in the transaction. To help the couple, Julia offered to give them a free tour of the property the next day.

Real estate tour

During the tour, they saw several finished apartments, and Julia suggested looking at new projects under construction from a reliable developer.

Ideal housing for clients

Upon completion of the residential complex, the clients received outstanding housing that not only met their expectations, but exceeded them. The unique complex impressed even more than the 3D visualizations showed. A pleasant surprise was the increase in the cost of the apartment by 40% during the entire construction period, which made this investment not just a joyful moment, but also a successful financial move. Irina Rasskazova, manager of Antarex Montenegro, told us about it.

The path to real estate

Irina did not get into real estate in Montenegro right away. Her journey began when she moved to the country, where she worked as an interior designer, helping clients who wanted to buy homes. During this time, she was successfully learning the local language and exploring business opportunities, and she was exposed to interesting prospects in a new location. She eventually realized that she was best interested in working in the tourism sector or in real estate, especially given the large number of CIS clients present in the market.

Decision about moving

“My decision to move to Montenegro matured quickly, but it did not save me from some mistakes in my first years of living in this new country. My move to Montenegro was planned by chance - I came at the request of my past employers to assess promising projects for investment. But I was not particularly impressed by the facilities on offer, whereas the surrounding nature and the lifestyle of the locals simply amazed me.

It happened in summer and I enjoyed the heat and the sea, which also left a strong impression on me. Three days later I returned home, but a piece of my heart remained in this magical country. We fell in love with Montenegro at first sight: its natural beauty and peaceful life enchanted me. This place is quite wild, but open and friendly at the same time. My heart fluttered at their warm attitude towards children and family values, and I longed to stay here to try living in the relaxed Mediterranean spirit.

Search for accommodation in Kotor

On New Year's Eve, I asked my newly acquired Montenegrin acquaintances to help me find an apartment to rent in Kotor, where I was going to go for a week to get a better feel for the region. With a rented car I went on a tour to Skadar Lake and Lovcen, which finally convinced me that I not only wanted, but had to live here.

When I returned to my home country, I wrote a letter of resignation. While I was looking for a place to live, my acquaintances found a rental option for me - a whole floor of a house with a garden. From the photos and transcripts, it looked intimidating. However, I later learned that the rental price was significantly inflated, and the house itself was cold and uncomfortable.

Adaptation in a new country

Although at that time, to be honest, I experienced only joyful emotions, the spring, sunny days and blooming nature around me created a magical atmosphere. The locals were extremely kind and responsive, and they helped me throughout this difficult phase of adaptation.

Conclusion

I hope this article has helped you better understand the dynamic world of real estate and the important aspects associated with this business from the perspective of four successful women who have made huge contributions to the field.

Each brings a unique perspective and invaluable experience offered against a backdrop of diverse cultural and professional contexts.

Professional stories

• Evgenia ProkazovaMr. Kozlov, Sales Director of Bulgaria Avenue, is successfully working in the real estate market, creating individual approaches to each client.
• Natalia Zavalishina, director of Distant Property, demonstrates how interest in overseas real estate can grow given the different needs of buyers.
• Julia Vysotskaya, Sales Director of Uptrend Homes, shares her love of living and working in Alanya, which inspires others to follow their dreams.

They take the challenges and joys that accompany the buying and selling process and make it human and full of inspiration. Their stories emphasize the importance of a personalized approach and a sincere desire to help clients find the perfect home.

Changes in the market

It is also nice to see how interest in foreign real estate is changing. The market is becoming international, and now buyers come not only from Russia but also from other countries, which creates a unique atmosphere of diversity and opportunity.

All of this adds extra value to the work of professionals such as the heroines of our article.

Final thoughts

So, if you are considering investing in real estate abroad or dreaming of a home in sunny Bulgaria, Turkey or another country, know that behind every transaction are professionals ready to support you every step of the way.

I hope the stories here will inspire you not only to dream, but also to act. After all, it is this kind of dedication and genuine interest in people and their dreams that makes the world a little better.