About Carin Astrup

How I worked out the Marbella Property Market - it can feel like a big jungle sometimes

“I’ve been the person that my friends turn to for consultation my whole life. My parents taught me compassion early on in life. They told me to be honest, yet humble, when sharing my opinions.

There are so many ways that we can contribute to other people. I always wanted to help people at a deeper level. Help in a way that creates meaning.”

A Little Life Experience and History

I got my BA in Business and Administration at the University of San Francisco. I also studied the human body and mind in addition to my university studies. Later I became a certified personal trainer at the American Council on Exercise. I have also achieved certificates in people coaching. Human behaviour and psychology fascinate me.

For many years I lived in Norway. I operated my own business as a Personal Trainer. The business went well. Soon I had to say NO to taking on more clients. I had no more time available no matter how much I wanted to. I was successful because I cared about my clients. It wasn’t only about them training hard and getting slim. It was the genuine the connection I established with my clients that made the difference. I wanted them to feel good about themselves. No matter how they looked.

I wanted them to love their bodies no matter their shape, to speak kindly about themselves, and to be healthy.

I helped clients connect with their inner selves. Changes happen in life when people learn to connect. They make the right choices.

Parallel to working with PT clients, I renovated and decorated homes in Oslo. The real estate market was another passion of mine. I realized that a home is also very personal. There’s so much that needs to be right with a home in order for it to give that “I can see myself living here” feeling. It’s not always so easy to know when the house is right though and often we need someone to guide us in the process.

How I Learnt to Manage the Marbella Property Market

When I moved to Marbella, I started buying homes to renovate for resale. The homes I refurbished gave a homely and positive vibe. As I started buying homes here, I also studied how the real estate market works. I learned that buying homes in Marbella can be a mess and somewhat opaque. Anyone can be an agent. You can be a dentist and an agent, a waiter and an agent, and a stay-at-home-mother and an agent here in Spain.

Owners set their own house prices and they sign listing contracts with as many agents as they want. There is little structure and organization. Few agents actually know the real buying process here. Neither do they know the Spanish property tax system. I studied and learned it all by myself.

Worst of all was to feel pushed into buying properties that were not good for me. Several agents I encountered seemed desperate to make a sale. They didn’t listen to me. Neither did they ask me questions to find out what I was looking for. The budget was the only interesting thing for them to learn.

They sent me suggestions about homes that weren’t in the area in which I wanted to buy. Besides that, they suggested that I view the wrong kind of property.

It was exhausting to have all these people around me that tried to push me around. I wasted so much time looking at properties that weren’t for me.

I realized that the agents that were trying to help me didn’t really care about what I really wanted and were looking for. I saw a gap to fill and a serious need for good agents in the Marbella property market.  

I win clients by genuinely showing interest in their needs, hopes and dreams within a home in Marbella. I find good properties for my buyers as I ask relevant and qualifying questions. 

Am I the Right Agent For You?

I will always ask you questions. I follow a particular buying method which you can read about in the “investor guide” . I could be the right agent for you if you are ok with telling me what you want and need in a home. Will you be OK with telling me about your family and your lifestyle? When you are comfortable with telling me your budget and letting me know if you need a mortgage right away, I could be the right agent for you. I need you to be transparent with me to be the best for you. 

When we seek other people’s help/services, we often have one thing in mind; to lose weight or to buy a house for example. The questions WHY, HOW, WHEN, and WHAT rarely are in the mind at that point. We need the person we consult to be able to see through us so that we end up doing and getting what’s right for us. As a real estate agent it’s the combination of knowing the market and knowing the client.

Buying a home is a big and important investment for you. A good agent helps you connect with your heart. Helps you make the right choices, for you. 

I am the right agent for you if you decide that you only want to work with me and not parallel me with other agents. I am the right agent for you because your gut feeling is telling you that I will do my very best to find you the best property available on the market within your budget. 

When you experience that feeling “I can see myself living here” then you have found the right home. It would be an honor for me to help you along that journey. 

CA Estates - About Carin Astrup

Testimonials

Don't take our word for it - see what clients say!

I recommend Carin as our Marbella Real Estate Agent. Carin has helped me and my family find a home in Marbella with genuine care. It took us a while to decide where we wanted to be. During this time Carin followed up on us in a personal, yet professional way. When we first met Carin, she asked relevant questions to understand what we wanted and needed in a home. And, she listened. Carin has great market knowledge. And she only suggested homes that represented what we were looking for. Carin is very professional. Her hard work ethic is much appreciated and respected. She has also followed up on us after we moved in to make sure we are all good in our new home. It shows me that she cares about us. I never felt that Carin was trying to sell us a house, only. She is always here to answer any of our questions and help us make the best decision for the family.
by Maria Ristic
I am very happy with how Carin Astrup has taken care of me and my family. During our Marbella home buying processes, she has listened to what we want and need. She has suggested properties that we can see ourselves living in. Carin is never pushy and never oversells. Still, she is firm in her advice. Her property knowledge is great as well. Carin also responds to any questions or concerns. I find that Carin believes that the most important thing is that we find the right property for us. She puts me as the buyer first. I value that so much in an Agent.
by Ana María Macedo & Jon Jonsson
I’ve been looking to buy in the Marbella area for quite some time. I have received exceptional help from Carin Astrup. There are other circumstances in life that have appeared and delayed the process for me. Carin is following up on me with relevant information. She is personal, yet professional with ideas and suggestions. Although we have never met it feels like we have become friends. It’s a good feeling to have in a home-buying process. I can always reach out to her with questions I have about Marbella. I hope I will make it to Marbella soon. That I can get the dream home we have been chatting about for so long. I’m sure Carin will help me find the best home for me and my family’s needs.
by Timmy O'Sullivan

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