After many years reporting on the sector, what would you say was the real defining moment for the market as we know it today? Would you be willing to lay the odds on the next big shift?

I’ve been writing about real estate for almost a decade, and I’ve seen any number of sea changes and challenges, not least the shock of the pandemic and spiking interest rates.

A key factor has been the race to adapt to new demands and lifestyles that call for much more flexible formats. It’s happening all across the board: in the residential market, in hotels and in offices.

Also, the influx of investors and professionals from a finance background has changed how companies are run and relate to risk. Meanwhile, the Spanish real estate market is now firmly on the radar of capital investors, bringing a broader range of profiles to our shores.

CBRE is celebrating 50 years in Spain; five decades in which the real estate sector has weathered many storms and changed beyond imagination. What is the media’s role in demystifying the transition to a model where people and planet come first?

Real estate journalism is about offering a perspective based on data and reliable sources, so that readers can understand what’s going on and form a view on what’s coming next.

Avoiding polarised positions and preconceived ideas helps us stay as objective as possible. The best predictor of a title’s longevity is credibility.

It’s also important to ground information in the most relatable way, so it comes across as interesting and accessible. You need to put yourself in the shoes not only of investors or property owners, but users and the general public as well, and everyone along the value chain.

Do you find that companies have become more transparent in communicating their activities to the media? How have relationships between journalists and the business community changed?

Generally speaking, yes: there is more transparency. The professionalisation of the sector has made an impact on in-house PR teams, and the obligation of transparency applies equally to a company’s dealings with the media. They tend to be quick to respond to data requests, and it is relatively easy to get hold of sources.

Of course, as with everything there’s a spectrum; not all companies place the same value on effective communication, and not all of them are equally accommodating to the media. With experience, you learn to pick out the companies or PR teams that respect our work from those that don’t, and to handle them accordingly.

How has society’s perception of the sector changed? Has there been any significant movement in the last few years?

The bursting of the real estate bubble and all the excesses of the boom years did a lot of damage to the sector.

Now we are in a fresh cycle, and there are many newly formed companies that operate to an explicit code of ethics.

While the industry has gone a long way to rebuild its image, it will take years of blameless conduct before the whiff of speculation is gone for good.

Part of the reason the industry still gets a bad name comes down to simple ignorance. It plays such a vital role in today’s society, and that makes it a target for inflammatory messaging and smear campaigns.

Over the course of your career in journalism, you have interviewed some of the top people in the sector. What qualities, if any, do you find they have in common?

It’s hard to point to a definite pattern that applies in all cases, but, generally speaking, most senior executives and experts I encounter in my work are extremely knowledgeable in their fields, have a lot of experience behind them and are highly skilled communicators.

Accessibility, approachability, empathy and respect for media outlets and their staff are other common traits among leaders in this sector.

What or who is your go-to when seeking inspiration?

Going right to the source of information, getting a foot in the door of companies or government agencies that are close to what’s happening in the market, is one of the best ways to pick up on a story.

Hanging around with the crowd before or after an event, doing interviews, conversations with business people, analysts and consultants and, most importantly, engaging in informal chatter are all great opportunities to catch up on the news, gather information and get in the loop with new ideas and trends.

As one of Spain’s most respected real estate journalists, do you have any anecdotes or real-life lessons to share from your career?

By this point, there are so many things I could tell you, but if I had to share one thing I’ve learned it would be to never hold back a question or take anything as read.

In an industry like real estate, what’s ubiquitous today could be out the door in a couple of years. Buildings make up the form and fabric of our cities, and so they leave an enduring mark.

The overwhelming pace of change driven by new technology also means that evolutions that would once have taken years now happen in a matter of months. To me, that’s one of the most interesting and challenging aspects of this profession. You never stop learning.

What story on the sector were you most excited to break? And the obvious question: what story would you like to break? Something not too far in the future…

As a financial reporter, big corporate deals have an irresistible pull. Mergers between major companies, IPOs, new entrants to the sector, watching a start-up emerge as a unicorn... these things will always grab my interest and writing about them is immensely satisfying.

I also find it very rewarding to be among the first to call a trend, get an inside peek at a new business plan or the ins and outs of a transaction or cover developments in the regulatory agenda and what it means for the industry and society.

Of course, there are a few high-profile executives that, as well as impressive titles, are particularly inspiring to read about, and to interview as well.