Paul & Vince would like to welcome Yasemin Baysal, Private Office Advisor at Engel & Völkers Lake Como, Italy.

With a degree in economics and business and fluency in seven languages, Yasemin began her career in music and entertainment before moving to Italy in 2005. She oversees the sale and purchase of exclusive, high-end properties throughout the Lombardy region and has appeared on the Italian reality television program Casa a Prima Vista on Real Time since 2004.

1.

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

Yasemin:  Lake Como is a magical place. We are only 45 minutes away from Milan and only minutes away from the border of Switzerland. We are in the Lombardy region, in the northern part of Italy, which is one of the most affluent areas of the country. The lake and the mountains make swimming and skiing part of the lifestyle, and the climate is very mild. The atmosphere and architecture are very romantic here, not as touristy as other Italian lakes. The hills here are just stunning and provide a level of privacy that our clients appreciate.

2.

Paul & Vince: Tell us what you did before you worked in real estate and how you came to Engel & Völkers?

Yasemin: I was in Germany, and I studied business and languages while I toured as a singer in a rock band.

Paul & Vince: Wow, that sounds fun!

Yasemin: Yes, but I promised my parents I would study. After completing my university studies, I worked in real estate development, specifically in shopping centers. Then I decided to come to Italy with my family, and I started working as an agent at Engel & Völkers here in 2005. Now, I’m the license holder and Managing Director of four offices. We have agents from here in Italy, but we also have agents from Ukraine, from Germany, Yugoslavia, Russia, so our offices cover nine languages.

3.

Paul & Vince: That’s fantastic. But now tell us, what’s unique to the Lake Como real estate market right now?

Yasemin:  Really, the market has grown steadily since I began here in 2005, with the exception of 2007 and 2009 during the international crisis. Prices have gone up exponentially since 2011. Then, of course, during the pandemic, everyone wanted to move out of cities, and we ran out of properties to sell. Now the market is more balanced, more stable.

Paul & Vince: That’s good news.

Yasemin:  Yes, and the pandemic taught us to change strategies and really go after new listings. My team reports to me every week about what they did to reach contacts, to find potential listings. At our last monthly meeting, I instructed them to take people out to lunch, and if they brought me a contact, I would cover the cost of lunch. So, my agents often go out to lunch, sometimes at the finest hotels, and last week, one of my agents brought me a contact who provided us with three houses to list. So, our strategy is working. I attend events regularly, including clubs and golf tournaments, to stay present. As a result, we now have a very good portfolio of properties.

4.

Paul & Vince: So, tell us what you like most about your career in real estate right now.

Yasemin:  Oh, I love my job, it’s my passion. I love to come to the office every day. I love meeting so many different people from every walk of life, and also working with my agents and watching their success. It gives me a lot of satisfaction.

Paul & Vince: Do you still do many showings and sell yourself, or have you taken a step back?

Yasemin:  I focus on training my team and supporting more complex sales negotiations. I also create content for social media, and I recently appeared on a very popular reality show where we compete against agents from Milan, called Casa a Prima Vista. I can’t do it all the time, but when I’m on the show, it’s an excellent marketing tool. The viewers see our expertise, and that brings us new listings. Which makes my agents very happy.

… and one more, Just for Fun

Paul & Vince: Now it’s time for our Just For Fun question. If you could go back in time and be present for an iconic cultural moment, what would it be?

Yasemin:  It would probably be the 1960s, in San Francisco. The time of the hippies, free love, and flower power.

Paul & Vince: Oh, that’s perfect! Who would be your favorite rock stars to hang out with?

Yasemin:  I love the music of the Doors. Jim Morrison, the Rolling Stones. I would love to just be in that world of music…to shut off the brain, to relax, to just let the music take me away.

Original artwork by Jolisa Robinson, Gavriani-Falcone Team Marketing