Valentina FIlipova - From USA with love!
Valentina FIlipova
Real estate broker, First Estates
Valentina has been working for the company from its very establishment. Her professional background in real estate started in 1998 in the United States. She has been a part of the team of Harry Stevens, a real estate company founded in the 60s of the 19th century in USA. Valentina loves her job and derives the most joy out of it in seeking the happiness in her clients’ eyes when they find just the right home. She strives to achieve this professional standard on a daily basis.
Tell us more about your professional experience?
“For me, success is finding the dream home for a client. The feeling of crating happiness is amazing”
Valentina Filipova: I was born in Bulgaria, but for many years I have lived and worked abroad – 12 years in the US, one year in Costa Rica, 2 years in England, also in Spain. My professional background as a real estate broker started in the US in 1998. I have a passion for residential real estate and I love helping people find the exact home they are looking for. The feeling of creating joy is irreplaceable. Success to me means finding the perfect home for a client. I’ve always strived towards that.
You possess a very extensive international experience. What made you come back to Bulgaria?
“I came back because I missed Bulgaria!”
Valentina Filipova: I came back because despite the structure and order in the countries I’ve lived in, I missed Bulgaria. Perhaps it was this pedantic order that didn’t suit my lifestyle.
How long have you worked for First Estates?
Valentina Filipova: I’ve been working with First Estates from the very establishment of the company.
Would you describe the company in one sentence?
“Unique approach, highly qualified team”
Valentina Filipova: A unique approach to the market, combined with an international team of highly qualified specialists. In the meantime, everybody in the company is very friendly and close, it’s a pleasure to work alongside them.
Perhaps those are some of the advantages that distinguish First Estates and make it into a successful and progressive company. What other advantages do you think the company has?
“Attention to detail, personal engagement towards the needs of the client and an unique platform with a wide range of functionalities make First Estates into a modern and progressive company.”
Valentina Filipova: Another advantage of our company is the attention to detail and the incredibly professional method of work. Our clients can rely on our complete cooperation, not only for a specific real estate that they have an interest it. First Estates is a company which applies personal engagement towards each client and a company that strives to offer the best proposition on the market based on the personal real estate needs of each individual client. And last, but not least, First Estates has an unique online platform with a wide range of functionalities, which turn a tedious property search into an easy, comfortable and modern experience, adapted towards specific client needs.
What are the professional challenges First Estates faces as a newcomer on the real estate market in Bulgaria?
“I am confident that in a short amount of time, the company will take on a leading position on the market.”
Valentina Filipova: I believe that on this stage, we are facing the challenge of building our company credibility and recognition among the Bulgarian, and specifically the Sofia residential real estate market.
The company is mainly positioned in the luxury real estate segment of central Sofia, but is quickly building up a portfolio of properties from various classes. I am confident that after a short while the company will take on a leading position on the market. We always follow the principle of loyalty towards the customer and we strive to completely fulfil every client’s real estate need.
What do you believe are the main advantages of consultants within First Estates?
“All consultants in First Estates are highly motivated and qualified experts.”
Valentina FIlipova: All consultants in First Estates are highly motivated and qualified experts. The team offers first class service on different languages. In addition, they are young and very positive individuals, working among with has been a true pleasure.
What are the main trends you have noticed with property searches at the moment?
“The real estate market is dynamic, there is a noticeable increase in property searches.”
Valentina Filipova: For the months in which First Estates entered the market, we have noticed a shift, which has started turning in an intensive market trend. The highly active seeking of properties is partially affected by the lack of thrust people have in our banking system. This fact played its role in the industry, which was until recently in a stand still. We still see the tendency of unrealistically high prices from some property owners who follow old market trends, but there is noticeable property seeking. Things are happening.
What are your predictions of the real estate market in Bulgaria, and Sofia to be exact, in the next few years?
“A property within the capital is a stable investment even for people who don’t have immediate residential needs.”
Valentina Filipova: First, we must note that every capital is of great and constant interest to property seekers. Not only due to some people’s desire to live in a capital city, but before else, due to the good investment value, as prices of properties around central and administrative capital regions are extremely resilient. It is precisely this, which offers a great advantage in owning a property in the capital – it’s a stable investment even for people who don’t have immediate residential needs.
Drawing from your international experience, can you tell us what the main differences in the real estate market in Bulgaria are, as opposed to the same in other European countries, and even the US?
“The concept of luxury is completely different in Bulgaria and in the US.”
Valentina Filipova: Let’s take the USA as an example. The concept of luxury is completely different. The end price of property offerings and the type of properties are different as well. The overall look and feel of a luxury property in the US, even if set property is for renovation, is completely different. The concept of luxury has parameters completely different than those in Bulgaria. I have experience in a company founded in the 60s of the 19th century – Harry Stevens. The company operates exclusively in the luxury real estate segment and in the work process, I’ve seen properties that cost millions of dollars. In Bulgaria luxury properties in the upper segment are usually located in the central city area and they will most likely require serious renovation. Categorizing them as luxury properties isn’t necessarily based on the vision and interior, but rather on the location of the properties themselves.
What is the concept of luxury for a buyer on the real-estate market in Bulgaria?
“Clients are often attracted to properties in the central parts of Sofia. Location has become one of the leading criteria for luxury.”
Valentina Filipova: I have noticed that clients are often attracted by properties in the Sofia’s centre locations – Doctor’s garden, around the parliament, etc. Those properties are predominantly old homes that need renovation, but keep a high price average due to their locations. Owners of such properties, who have noticed this trend, more than often will modernize their interiors, offering designer solutions that appeal to potential buyers. Renovated properties are still not that many, but we are actively working towards developing this trend in the near future.
Would you consider the purchasing of a luxury property in the Bulgarian capital as a good investment?
“Location, location, location!”
Valentina Filipova: I think that the saying, popular everywhere in the world as a main mantra in our industry, can easily be applied here as well – “location, location, location”. An individual can create
What are your professional principles that you wouldn’t compromise with?
“The most important thing is to remain loyal to the client.”
Valentina Filipova: Loyalty towards a client, whose interests you protect is an imperative. There is no sense in lies and manipulation, this is an unthinkable way of work for me.
And is the client always right?
Valentina Filipova: This isn’t always the case, but we always listen and never undermine a client’s arguments.