Natalia Kurda was born in Berlin in 1990 and still lives there today. Even as a child she was interested in architecture, but she decided to train as a…
Natalia Kurda was born in Berlin in 1990 and still lives there today. Even as a child she was interested in architecture, but she decided to train as an office clerk and then did a bachelor’s degree in real estate management. She is now the mother of a young son, with whom she spends a lot of time on the playgrounds in her hometown. In her professional life she runs the real estate agency Preig as a board member together with Peyvand Jafari. To unwind she does yoga and meditation or reads books of various genres. She would actually like to learn to play the piano, but she doesn’t have the time at the moment.
Where do you currently live?
I am currently renting a four-room apartment in an old building in Prenzlauer Berg. It is a high-quality renovated old building with beautiful stucco, a beautiful wooden floor and an impressive fireplace. I look directly onto Torstrasse and can even see the top of the TV tower if I stretch my head a little.
Have you ever done any work on this property yourself?
Luckily, with two brothers who are good at DIY, this has been unnecessary up until now. But hey, I can change a lightbulb myself. That’s something.
Where is your favorite place in the apartment?
Definitely the dining table. Time with my family is very precious to me. We sit together at the dining table for a long time on Sundays, eating, talking and laughing. Besides, I don’t like eating alone. It’s much more fun when we eat together.
What does the perfect house or apartment absolutely have to have?
A sunny balcony and a bathtub are very important to me. And of course enough space for a large dining table.
How would you like to live when you are older?
Preferably somewhere warm. I have always wanted to own a large apartment building where my family and good friends live. Having my loved ones around me is the greatest happiness for me.
When, where and how did you first earn money as an adult?
After my training, the company hired me straight away. I managed the administration there for around two years.
How did you find your way into the real estate industry?
Definitely on my own two feet, but planned. I originally thought about architecture, but then saw my strength in the commercial sector. I knew early on that the real estate industry was right for me. As a child, I loved looking into the windows of residential buildings. I always thought: the nicer the window, the nicer the rest of the apartment must be. Today I know that this is not always the case.
Do you have a favorite property?
Definitely the Eiffel Tower – and not just because it defines the location and has a unique selling point in marketing terms.
And which building would you like to demolish and why?
There are certainly some – subjectively speaking – unsightly properties that should be viewed from a different perspective. They all make the cityscape unique and therefore have a right to exist.
In your opinion, what does it take to succeed in your job?
A lot of perseverance, respect for the work and an eye for the bigger picture. Personally, my process-oriented thinking also helps me a lot.
What bothers you (most) in the real estate industry?
In the real estate industry, some players like to close their eyes to reality. The market is currently in a bad state. That is probably difficult to accept. Sophisticated risk management is a must these days, although a plan B should always be in place, even in booming phases.
And what do you particularly like?
Compared to the Anglo-Saxon world, the professionalization of the real estate industry is still relatively new. If you work hard and understand business issues, you can build something for yourself and make a name for yourself, no matter where you come from. I think professional standards are right and important.
Property developer, rent shark, locust: people who (want to) make money with real estate don’t always have the best reputation. Rightly so?
No. Of course there are black sheep in every industry. We create living space so that people feel comfortable at home. There is nothing wrong with that. The charlatans often take up a lot of space in the reporting, but that does not reflect reality.
You would advise young people to go into real estate because…
…it is a very multifaceted industry.
What would you like to be today if not a real estate professional?
Definitely a doctor and osteopath for babies. After the birth I had my first experiences with osteopathy and it helped Janni and me a lot.
What gets on your nerves in your private life? And what gets on your nerves in your professional life?
This is the same in both cases: obvious lying, just like unreliability.
How do you deal with failure?
I often find these to be much more important than successes. I like to see failures as a strict teacher that shows the weak points. If something doesn’t work, I learn from it how I can do it better in the future.
How do you celebrate your successes?
Before the birth of my child, champagne was my companion for the celebration. Now I like to reward myself and others with a good meal.
Tell us your favorite dish?
Pizza – momentan Pizza Bianca with Bresaola.
Where do you like to go out?
At the moment, you’re most likely to find me on Berlin’s playgrounds. Otherwise, I like to go out to eat. I’ve been wanting to go back to Borchardt for a long time, but unfortunately I don’t have the time.
And which living person would you like to spend an evening there with? Why?
I really enjoy talking to Michelle Obama. I find her totally inspiring and very quick-witted. She has spoken to so many powerful and interesting people in her life and I’m sure she has a lot to say.
What other private pleasures do you not have enough time for?
Unfortunately, my son is still too young to go on long-distance trips with him. But I can’t wait to show him the world.
Is there something abroad that you miss in Germany?
The sun and warm temperatures.
Where or how can you relax or unwind particularly well?
When I go for a walk. Whether at home or when I’m travelling. I used to love going to the mountains to hike.
Name one of your favorite songs?
I have a soft spot for old school hip hop. Given the current political situation, I recommend “Neighbors” by J. Cole.
When you think about your last vacation, what do you think of…?
“Mom, I want to…” or “Auntie, I want to…” – my eight-year-old niece, my son and I were together in Tenerife. Young parents know this: relaxation in the traditional sense looks different.
Home office, office or mobile on the train? Where do you work most often, where do you prefer to work and why?
I’m a big fan of working from home, but also of the traditional office. Having a team around you is a blessing, especially when working on projects. But I work most efficiently from home.
Who would you like to swap lives with for a day? Why?
With Elon Musk. I find him incredibly interesting and I’m sure that we are much further ahead on a technological level than we even realize. He also has an enormous amount of knowledge and is sure to be keeping one or two secrets.
You have 100,000 euros at your disposal and have to spend all the money – what dream do you want to fulfill?
I would like to pack up all of my Preig colleagues and fly somewhere nice (warm). Unfortunately, I missed the last company trip to Athens because of the birth of my child. I would really like to make up for that.
The questions were asked by Janina Stadel.
