Ya govoryu po- russki! (I speak Russian!)
Our Charlottesville community is not that big but very diverse. I have been using Russian quite a lot for work; many of my clients come from different parts of the former Soviet Union. You would think that most are affiliated with UVA, and that is true to some extent. But I also have clients who have come to America through the International Rescue Committee. For some of my Russian-speaking clients I am not just a real estate agent but also an interpreter. But often the biggest issues with my clients are not with language but with culture.Certain enhancements that are popular back in their old country might affect the property here in a negative way. Take wallpaper, for example. Back in Russia it's very popular and inexpensive to do, but here the cost is prohibitive and it's not as easy to change as a coat of paint. The current economic crisis is something a lot of my Russian clients take to heart because they went through a horrible economic downturn in the 90s. As a result, some of my clients simply do not trust the banks. Those stories of clients bringing suitcases of money are not always jokes, but it doesn't mean they're with the mob. Very often, in my case, it's hard workers who have saved over the years and are just scared of the banks. Now, this might seem funny, but in reality it makes it more difficult for them to get a loan even with their sizeable assets because the money has not been in the bank. Because of my background, I can explain to underwriters their point of view, and hopefully it will result in a loan.
If you happen to know someone who speaks Russian and needs help with real estate, I would be happy to chat with them and offer advice. Spasibo!
Labels: charlottesville real estate, russia, russian language, soviet union
