Originally from a small town near Perugia, Italy, Emiliano Conti has traveled extensively and received an advanced education. With a Master’s in Philosophy from Ca’ Foscari University and a Certificate of Advanced Studies in General Management from St. Gallen University, Emiliano combines analytical and humanist approaches in all of his business transactions. 

Having lived abroad for many years (in Spain, France, Switzerland, and the United States), he also uses his background to welcome an international array of customers who want to invest in Venetian area properties. He lives in Venice’s historic center with his wife.

1.

Paul & Vince: What are the best things about living and working in your market?

Emiliano: I live and work in the historic area of Venice, an island, so we have gondolas, canals, and no cars. Since we can’t “hide” in our cars, we see everyone we know in plain view on the street. Venice is a great place for art, with the ratio of residents to museums about 500 to 1. And as far as restaurants and bars go, we have everything. We have the quaintness of a small town but an international flow of people and ideas.

2.

Paul & Vince: What did you do before coming into real estate?

Emiliano: I first came to Venice to study and instantly fell in love with it. I found a philosophy professor I wanted to study with; I found a job and even an apartment in one day. It was like the universe was telling me something! I had studied in Barcelona, Spain, and Toulouse, France; I even studied English in New York City, but I always knew I wanted to return to Venice.

When I completed my studies, I worked in the financial industry here for a few years. Then one day, I was walking by a beautiful old building, and I thought, “How nice would it be to work here?” That building was Engel & Voelker’s building! So I sent in a resume, and the rest is history.

3.

Paul & Vince: What a way to start…What’s going on in the Venice market now?

Emiliano: Well, Engel & Voelkers has been in other Italian cities for several decades, but back then, we were new in Venice, and so at first, it wasn’t easy to stand out from the established agencies. But now we have approximately twenty percent of the market and are doing quite well. 2021 and 2022 were very strong.

Paul & Vince: Has the pandemic changed who is buying in Venice?

Emiliano: Generally, many people from abroad are buying their third or fourth house here. They come here for our lifestyle, which is quite special. And the fact that I speak French, Spanish, and English helps a great deal. But one thing that has changed is outdoor space. Having a large terrace was not common for locals; it was more for tourists who wanted the romance of sitting on a terrace with their wine. But during the pandemic, staying inside with no outdoor space was hard, so now more residents want outdoor space.

New people are coming, but often I have to explain to foreigners that Venice property is safe [Laughs]. We are very proud of where we are on climate change and of our new dam system. Venice is a fragile ecosystem built on a bog of watery forests. But since 2021, Venice has had a dam that protects the streets from flooding. I used to have several pairs of heavy boots, one for the home and one for the office. But now, we’ve said goodbye to the boots!

4.

Paul & Vince: What do you like most about your career in real estate right now?

Emiliano: Venice is a great place to work in real estate since this city is like living in a museum, and with no cars, we all walk through this museum and greet each other. To have a networking job here is a dream.

Paul & Vince: It sounds like a dream.

Emiliano: Well, yes, I would say every day is a dream day, really. The first lesson in academic Philosophy is that you practice your philosophy in every moment of your life. When you talk to people and express yourself, you express your vision. You’re expressing your being. So, I tend to develop a very strong connection with my clients because I feel that Venice has a way of choosing people, just the way it chose me.

…and one more, Just For Fun

Paul & Vince: Now it’s time for your Just For Fun question. What (possibly silly) invention are you secretly hoping someone will finally put out into the world?

Emiliano: [Laughs] Perhaps it is not so funny, but more of an obsession around time and how to make more of it. In Harry Potter, the character of Hermione has a special time turner necklace she uses to create more time and take more classes! So, I would love to duplicate the hours of the day to work more and read more…My wife and I love books, so we would use the time turner to read double or three times as much.

Paul & Vince: Nice. What would you be reading about?

Emiliano: I love to read essays and novels, but during the week, I read a lot about technology, philosophy, politics, and history. My wife is an author and has her own publishing house, so we love books of all kinds at home!

Paul & Vince: Wow! Emiliano, you are so interesting and well-read; we wish we had a time-turner to talk to you for a few more hours!

Emiliano: It would be great, right? Why isn’t that invented by now? [Laughs]

Original artwork by Jolisa Robinson, Gavriani-Falcone Team Marketing