Cooperation and Quality as the Key Vision: First Steps of the Professional Group of Real Estate Intermediaries in Istria

This week, the Croatian Chamber of Commerce – Pula County Chamber established the Professional Group of Real Estate Agents of the Istrian County, and my colleagues honored me by unanimously electing me as its first president. Danijela Putnik (In Fiducia nekretnine, Tar) and Laci Debeljak (Aspectus, Pula) were elected as deputy presidents.

I would like to share here, directly and openly, why this establishment is important – not only for us brokers, but above all for those of you who buy, sell or invest in real estate in Istria.

Why we started this
The Istrian real estate market has been one of the most active and dynamic in all of Croatia for years. The first serious projects here – from exclusive villas with pools to complex development projects – appeared about fifteen years earlier than in the rest of the country. This is no coincidence. It is the result of the work of generations of agencies and agents who have built this market patiently, professionally and honestly.

But let's be completely honest: in recent months, with discussions about the new legal framework, the public's perception of our profession has weakened significantly. The reason is well-known and unfair - the worst examples are always talked about the loudest in the media and in society. About individuals who work in the gray area, who are not licensed, who break the rules and cause harm to both clients and us professionals.

Because of this loud minority, numerous excellent licensed agencies and professional, educated agents who have been working in Istria for years at the highest standards and at the highest level remain in the shadows. They do their job quietly, conscientiously - and too often remain invisible.

What I want to achieve and what our vision is

My primary goal at the head of the Professional Group is clear: to separate the wheat from the chaff, give a strong voice to true professionals, and restore the public trust that has been damaged.

The key vision of my mandate is that joint work and open cooperation among agencies are the foundation of everything we do. We are no longer merely competitors to one another, but partners working toward the same goal. Through this cooperation, we must significantly raise the quality of agency work. It is time to follow the principle that “less is actually more” – let us focus on top-level, verified, and highly professional service, rather than simply stacking up listings and quantity without substance.

The key tools in achieving this vision will be:

  • Maximum transparency in every step of business.
  • Even stronger cooperation among agencies – and Istria is already leading the way here. Collegiality among Istrian agencies is at an exceptionally high level compared with the rest of Croatia, and we can be proud of that. But there is always room, and a need, to do better.
  • Clear business guidelines that we will establish through the work of the Professional Group in order to ensure excellence.
  • The fight against the grey zone and encouraging agencies to register all of their agents who have passed the professional exam.

Our goal is to regulate the market fully, and we can achieve that only if we openly share information, cooperate in the field in the best interest of clients, and act as one body.

What this means for you, our clients

If you are buying or selling a property in Istria, the message is simple: by engaging a licensed real estate intermediary, you gain complete legal security, expertise, and added value.

A licensed intermediary is not just someone who places your property on advertising portals – anyone can do that today. A true professional checks ownership status and documentation, leads negotiations, protects your interests, and stays with you until the very end of the process, often even after it. The difference between that and operating in the grey zone is measured by your security and your money.

This is especially important at a time when the Istrian market is opening more and more to buyers from the EU. What lies ahead of us is not an obstacle, but a huge opportunity – and that is precisely why this is the right moment to restore to the profession the reputation it deserves.

The first step and an invitation to colleagues

As the first and most important step on this new path, I want to open a dialogue. Before we make any formal decisions, we need to hear what colleagues have to say about the current state of the market. I want to hear first-hand what challenges you are facing in the field and which specific problems you are dealing with in your everyday work. Only once we map the real, concrete problems can we begin to solve them together and effectively.

That is why I am extending an invitation to all Istrian agencies: we are the only ones who can put our own house in order. I invite you to firm cooperation and a united approach. Come to the meetings, share your experiences, make suggestions, take part, and influence change. The Professional Group is a platform that carries weight only to the extent that we are willing to actively work and contribute.

Thank you to my colleagues for the trust they have shown, and to my deputies Danijela and Laci for their partnership. I look forward to the work and conversations ahead of us.

Aljoša Vučetić
Maris Real Estate, Pula
President of the Professional Group of Real Estate Intermediaries of Istria County