We are delighted to welcome Stefanie Manser as Head Residential Brokerage at Julius Baer Real Estate Ltd. and wish her every success in her new role. Stefanie brings more than 20 years of experience in the real estate industry to the table and spent the last 12 years at CBRE Switzerland as part of the Investor Leasing team, working as a marketer. In her most recent role, she was Co-Head of Investor Leasing for the Zurich and Basel locations. Stefanie is a lawyer and holds a Master of Advanced Studies in Real Estate (CUREM) from the University of Zurich.

You have been working in the real estate industry for over 20 years. How did your career begin and which stages have had a particular impact on you?

As a secondary school student, I had the privilege of learning about various areas of the residential property sector at a family-run real estate company. The comprehensive insight I gained during my many years working for this company had a particularly strong influence on me. I had the unique opportunity to learn about property management, marketing and construction from the ground up. Most recently, as deputy sales manager, I was able to independently manage large-scale projects of up to 200 apartments, helping to develop both strategies and all marketing materials for their promotion, and accompanying buyers from initial contact to key handover. 

Thanks to the knowledge I have acquired over the years in the areas of construction, development and buyer support, I was able to provide my buyers of condominium units with comprehensive, holistic advice so that they could design their new homes optimally and according to their individual wishes.

What made you decide to join Julius Baer Real Estate? 

The move to Julius Baer Real Estate gives me the opportunity to fully re-engage my passion for residential real estate while taking on a responsible leadership role. The position as Head Residential Brokerage allows me to leverage my experience in a targeted manner to work with a dedicated and competent team to generate new momentum and further develop the division.

I find the appreciative corporate culture, the strong strategic focus and the opportunity to help shape challenging residential real estate projects from the outset particularly motivating. Julius Baer Real Estate offers an environment in which quality, customer focus and professionalism are paramount. The location in the heart of Zurich city centre is also extremely attractive, of course.

What fascinates you about your new role compared to your previous positions?

The idea of accompanying individuals, couples and families on their journey to a new home and finding the right property fills me with great joy. At the same time, I want to provide my clients and customers with comprehensive, goal-oriented and solution-focused advice and work with them to overcome the challenges they face.

Where do you currently see the biggest challenges in marketing private residential property? 

For many people, the dream of owning their own home is one of the most important dreams of their lives. However, especially in the new-build sector, the path to handing over the keys involves many steps that are often underestimated. In addition to choosing the right property, this includes, above all, clarifying the financing. In many regions of Switzerland, especially in urban centres, property prices are very high. Tighter regulations have made financing even more challenging.

In your opinion, what trends and developments are shaping the market?

Today's buyers are not only looking to satisfy their personal needs, but are also paying increasing attention to other factors such as energy efficiency and modern building services. This can pose an additional challenge when marketing existing properties, which may be in need of renovation. In addition to the sale of the existing property, it is then necessary to show buyers the renovation and development possibilities. 

Furthermore, the need for living space has changed since the pandemic: floor plans often have to offer space for home office solutions. This should be taken into account early on in the planning stage, especially for new construction projects.

What is your long-term goal for the residential property sector and how do you intend to support your team in achieving this? 

In the sales division, our goal should be to get involved in project development at an early stage. Thanks to our experience, we know the target groups and can provide clients with optimal advice. 

In addition to marketers who accompany new construction projects throughout the entire process, we have proven experts for high-priced existing properties. They have many years of experience in discreet marketing and ensure highly professional handling from initial contact to transfer of ownership. I would like to expand our portfolio even further in this regard and make our proven expertise even more widely known in the market. 

What values are particularly important to you in working with others?

I greatly appreciate being part of a team that supports each other in a mutually beneficial way, celebrates successes together, but also shares failures and supports each other in finding the best solutions. 

It is particularly important to me that we work towards a common goal. In my opinion, this is best achieved when everyone is deployed according to their individual strengths and preferences. After all, we are better at our jobs when we enjoy and are passionate about the tasks and challenges we face in our everyday business life.

What does your perfect Sunday morning look like?

It varies greatly – especially with two small children aged 4 and 6. Sometimes we start the day early and do something or go on an outing, other times we enjoy a cosy morning at home.

I like to go out for a long brunch with dear friends and enjoy the time with stimulating conversations in a cosy get-together. 

For me, the quality of a Sunday lies in not having a fixed schedule and just letting the day unfold. Every kind of Sunday has its own value – and I enjoy the variety.