Ana Luengo: Spain is a country of owners and we want to protect private property

Ana Luego is an economist by training and has over 20 years of experience in the audiovisual industry. She previously had her own studio which she ran with her husband, was also involved in her first real estate, trained in personal and performance coaching and worked at Gestión Radio where she hosted three programs. Ana Luego is one of those women who at first glance mesmerizes with a carismatic and enchanting personality that fills with vitality from the very first moment of meeting.

In 2015, Ana made the final decision to move into the real estate industry, considering it as her true 'attraction and purpose', the presence of which she believes is indispensable for''contributions and partners.

There are currently 420 women registered with the Association, including agents, coordinators, managers and brokers. We are the largest association of women working in real estate in Europe and look forward to continued growth.

Our country has become a very attractive investment destination. 15% of real estate purchases are made by foreigners, mostly Americans.

What does AMPSI offer its members?

Support, training, assistance, and sustainable and productive national and international relationships for the long term. We enter into various institutional and other agreements that will benefit us all, such as the recently signed agreement with the ATA (Association of the Self-Employed). Situation''The self-employed in Spain are terrible and most real estate agents work for the self-employed, and it's important to know our rights and possible improvements, and so on.

What has been your most significant contribution in almost two years at the helm?

One of my main goals in AMPSI is to expand our contacts and business lines, both in Spain and abroad, through a process of internationalization that opens many doors for us outside our country through agreements with other international associations, such as Women'\''s Council Realtors in the United States .... Last week we held the Second International Meeting of Women in Real Estate ...

What issues were discussed at this international conference?

More than a hundred women from around the world'... 'discussed many issues online, from the position and development of women in real estate to business opportunities in Spain, which is considered the "Florida of Europe" because of our good climate and long coastline. Our country has become a very attractive investment destination. 15% of real estate purchases are made by foreigners, mostly Americans.

What does it take to be a good real estate agent?

Education, sociability, good emotional intelligence or sixth sense, and a love for people are key, and having all of these, you can find a lot of work and make good money.

What are the unresolved issues for real estate professionals in general, and for women in''particular?

It is the 'professionalization' that comes from training and qualification. This is one of the major unfinished business in the industry. Also, women are self-limiting and don't realize the full potential they have, which is why so many real estate agents are women, and so few women in management positions.

How many women work in real estate in Spain?

There are currently 160,672 people "registered" in real estate in Spain, including workers under the general regime and the self-employed. Of these, 71,982 are men (44.8%) and 88,690 are women (55.20%). After the surge in 2008, many women moved en masse into real estate, especially women over 45-50 years of age who were displaced from their fields and came into this''sphere in search of work because no one is rejected here because of age, you can earn a good income and have a flexible schedule to combine family responsibilities. Since the pandemic, several more waves of women have also entered the industry.

What are the professional fields in which women in Spain work in real estate? There is no glass and concrete ceiling for women in real estate, but we have almost no female representatives in management or decision-making roles. For example, there are 46 Real Estate Colleges (API) in Spain, where only four were women. We, at AMPSI, defend our active status of women in leadership positions.

88% of the world's home buying decisions are made by women. I'll be criticized for that, but''and build stronger ties between Spain, the U.S. and Latin America.

And finally, in addition to your work with AMPSI and other women's entrepreneur organizations such as ASEME (Spanish Association of Women Entrepreneurs of Madrid), you will soon be opening a branch of Century 21 Gallery in Madrid. What contribution do you want to make and what goals have you set?

We are still forming commercial agents. I want to build the first commercial team, mostly made up of women moms. We have been led to believe that we are super women and that we can handle everything, but being a working mom both at work and at home is exhausting. I would like to offer opportunities to these women who need a flexible place to work at all levels and where they can make great money. We want''to offer a comprehensive 360-degree turnkey service that will become the benchmark in our country's real estate industry. And I'm confident that when we offer that, we will be recommended to clients, because I know they won't stop recommending us.