Properstar Blog | The Real Estate Blog

In this interview, Gerard Paratte, CEO of Properstar, looks back on his career and tells us how he arrived in the world of real estate, what fascinates him about the industry and his ambitions for the future of Properstar. 

The idea of acquiring a holiday home abroad is tempting for many people. Owning a pied-à-terre in a sunny country can allow you to spend unforgettable moments with your family. It's also a great long-term investment. However, before you take the plunge and make this dream come true, you need to be vigilant. From the search process to the signing of the deed of sale, find out 5 important things to consider before buying a holiday home abroad. 

Here is a new article in our series "They sold their property with Properstar". This time we are going to Catalonia, Spain, to tell you the story of a couple, Paula and Javier, and a double win for Properstar clients! Desire for change, and a legacy property left by Paula's mother, are the topic of quick sales in this tale. Discover their story in the rest of this article! 

Have you spotted a property you want to buy? After studying the listing description in depth, you will now have to prepare for the visit. In addition to the condition of the apartment or house, certain questions must be asked of the former owners or the real estate agent in charge of the sale, during the property visit.  

The real estate market in New York is known to be one of the most dynamic and competitive in the United States and the world. As a global financial center, the city attracts local and international real estate investors. After some turbulence and uncertainties related to the global economic context, the city that never sleeps does not seem to be weakening in terms of real estate. So what does the real estate market look like in New York in 2023? In this article, we will look at the current trends in the real estate market in New York, the most popular neighborhoods and the different factors to consider when buying real estate in this city. 

In this interview, Gerard Paratte, CEO of Properstar, explains how the Sell with Properstar service is a real asset for sellers.  

With the fourth article in our series "They sold their property with Properstar" we return to Portugal to tell you the story of a brother and sister, Miguel and Maria. It is a family story about a legacy left by their father but it is also the story of a sale that was accomplished in a calm and easy way. Discover their story! 

In this interview, Gerard Paratte, CEO of Properstar, gives us his analysis of the state of the real estate market in Europe today, but also his vision for the future of real estate and its main players.  

Are you planning to buy your first property? Well done! This is an important decision, which will allow you to start building your wealth and have a "real home". For this, you will have to go through a few steps. We have listed 8 tips to help you to carry out your first real estate purchase with confidence! 

The real estate market in London is known to be one of the most dynamic in Europe. As a global financial center, the city attracts local and international real estate investors. However, with inflation at 10%, rising interest rates and global economic uncertainties, the London real estate market has taken a hit in recent months. Economists are even talking about a coming recession and property prices have fallen by an average of 1.1% year-on-year in the UK. The real estate market across the board has therefore slowed down. So what does the real estate market look like in London in 2023? In this article, we will look at the current trends in the real estate market in London, the most popular neighborhoods and the different factors to consider when buying a property in the British capital. 

Real estate crowdfunding has been on the rise in recent years and is becoming an attractive option for investors, with many emerging startups offering this type of financial product. Their idea is simple: make real estate investment accessible to as many people as possible and democratize it. The Americans are increasingly commending this type of investment because it brings good returns. The year 2022 was particularly profitable for investors but, so far, 2023 doesn't present quite the same pattern. Investing in crowdfunding requires a well-defined plan and some prior checks. So, should we embark on real estate crowdfunding in 2023?  

As sustainability becomes an increasingly important issue around the world, the real estate market is no exception. More homebuyers are prioritizing eco-friendly homes and sustainable building practices when looking for their next property. Sustainable real estate, also called responsible real estate, eco-responsible real estate or “green” real estate, refers to a set of solutions that apply the three pillars of sustainable development (environmental, social and governance) to the real estate sector. “Green” real estate is part of a global approach aimed at ensuring the sustainability of buildings and improving the living comfort of occupants. These comfort and sustainability criteria are framed by a certain number of certifications and labels at the building level, the objective of which is to certify the performance of a building or a material. In response to this demand, the green real estate market has been growing rapidly in recent years and is thus destined for major developments over the next decade and beyond. 

Renting an apartment or house requires having a concrete backrest, especially in Switzerland. Among the documents necessary for the constitution of a rental file there are the identity document, the employment contract, pay slips and the extract from the prosecution register, which is a security measure for the lessor and a decisive criterion. Indeed, the prosecution register document, ensures the lessor on the solvency of the future tenant and their ability to pay rent. So why is the extract from the debt enforcement register essential and how do you get it? We answer in this article! 

You own a property and you want to sell it? Setting the selling price of an apartment or house is not the easiest step. Indeed, there is the psychological and emotional price at which you would like to sell your property, a price that is often far from the reality of the market. What matters is the rational price determined by known factors and it is these that must be taken into consideration. There are therefore, some essential parameters to consider before setting the sale price of a property. 

What type of mandate to choose? This is the question that many owners ask themselves when selling their apartment or house. Indeed, by entrusting the sale of your property to an agency or an independent agent, you will have to sign a sales mandate. Regardless of the solution chosen, you will not be alone and you will be accompanied by a real estate professional. But why choose an exclusive sales mandate rather than another type of mandate? We explain everything to you in this article.  

This is the third article in our series “They sold their property with Properstar”. We are going to Portugal again to tell you the story of Anderson and this atypical and international sale. From Rio to Porto, find out how our local teams were able to win the trust of this remote seller and successfully complete the sale of his apartment more than 7900 kilometers from his home! 

It’s the second article in our series “They sold their property with Properstar”. This time we are going to Switzerland to tell you a family story; that of two brothers, Jean-Paul and Bertrand and their mother. Even if it is not always easy to part with an apartment or a house, it is one of the things we face when we experience life changes. Discover their story in the rest of this article!  

After two booming years for the real estate market, the trend seems to be reversing all over the world against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine. Rising credit rates, inflation, tense global political situations, a downturn in the real estate market is underway. From the United Kingdom to France via the United States, Sweden or China, transactions are on the decline and prices are falling. The post-pandemic real estate price boom has come to an end and a visible decline in real estate transactions has begun. So can we expect a general real estate crash in 2023?

At Properstar, we like to innovate and make life easier for ourusers. Real estate buyers are interested in investing, and therefore, will watch their budget closely. Indeed, the price of real estateisone of themostfollowedparametersby future buyers.We have designed the monitoring of price drops withthisin mind.Findout how thisnew featurewillhelp youbuythe propertyof yourdreamsat the best price! 

Do you have a property to sell? Properstar is there to support you in this new life project and in the sale of your home. At Properstar, 1+1 does not make 2, it is more than that. Our equation is much richer, it is made up of men and women who have unique projects, who experience life changes, who make decisions that cause them to move to another city or another country, etc.  
Our agents and their clients are here to testify that all of them have a different story to tell. 
Today we are going to Portugal, to learn about Ana and Antonio’s selling story. 

Selling an apartment or a house is not child'splay. As a homeowner, youmightthinkthatsellingyourproperty on yourowniseasy and willsaveyou money. But itis a time-consuming process, itrequiresspecificskills and mistakes can easilybe made. And the biggestmistakeis to underestimate the amount of effort, time and costthatwillbeinvolved in the process. So before jumping intothis process and finding out thatyouneedexceptionalnegotiationskills, legalknowledge and marketsavvy to sellyour home without a professional real estate agent, readthis article.Here are some important things to know about it and whyhiring a real estate agent will far outweigh the price of paying a commission fee.

Is the seller’s market changing?  Are agents keeping pace with the industry?  Let's look at what both agents and buyers are saying about the international real estate market, its trends, and the buying process for the remainder of 2022.

Although the share of owners is growing, there are still more than half of households in Switzerland that are tenants. To seal the rental agreement between a person and their property, a rental lease is signed. What are these fundamental elements that compose this agreement? 

The search for an apartment or a house to rent always goes hand in hand with a rental contract. To avoid blocking a large sum of money in a bank account (3 months' rent for private residential leases and 6 months for commercial leases), we have a simple, fast, flexible solution that allows us to advance the money for you. Want to know more? Read on! 

The rental market can be tight, depending on the region and the best accommodations rent out very quickly. In order to optimize your chances of landing the lease of your dreams, it is better to prepare your rental file prior to sending applications to save time and provide the required information to the agencies. 

Are you about to rent an apartment but would like to use the 3 month rental guarantee for other projects? Then this article might be of interest to you. Indeed, when renting an apartment, a very important element to take into account is the rental deposit or guarantee. Depending on your situation, this can be difficult to pay at one time. With Properstar, we explain everything you need to know to choose the best option. Let us help you! 

How much is my house worth? This is a question every homeowner should ask themselves, whether he is thinking of selling his property or just curious as to how much it would be worth today.

Well, now it is possible to answer this question in a few clicks thanks to our Properstar simulator.

Age 60 isn’t considered ‘old’ anymore, with many people continuing to work well into their 70’s but there are some extra considerations to look at, if you are wanting to secure a mortgage at age 60 or over. 

If you are looking to buy in Portugal or Spain, we can help both residents and non-residents. Here is a case study of two friends who are buying a villa in Spain and how they overcame  challenges with the right mortgage specialist team. 

A bridge loan is a short-term financing tool that helps purchasers to "bridge" the gap between old and new mortgages by allowing them to access equity in their current residence as a down payment, while essentially owning two properties concurrently as they wait for the sale of their existing home to close.