I had the pleasure of sitting down with Diðrik Stefánsson, a realtor in Reykjavík, to talk about the real estate market in Iceland. His nickname is Diddi and that is how I refer to him during the interview. This topic fascinates me for many reasons. The main one is that there is a lot of confusion and curiosity about the process of renting or buying in Iceland.
I decided to reach out to Diddi because he has been sharing his knowledge about the process on Facebook in groups that we are both a part of, including Americans (U.S. citizens) living in Iceland. I could tell that he is passionate about his job and about helping others who want to rent or buy in Iceland. When I reached out to him about being on the show, he was happy to participate.
Here Are The Questions I Asked Diddi About Icelandic Real Estate:
- Why did you decide to start working in real estate, and how long have you been a realtor in Iceland?
- Iceland was riding high before the economic meltdown in 2008. What is the real estate market like now?
- What is the biggest challenge Icelanders face when looking for a place to buy or rent?
- Each year it seems that renting in Iceland keeps getting more expensive. Why is that?
- There is a lot of construction going on in Reykjavík. There are new apartment buildings, hotels, homes, and store fronts popping up. Do you think all of this is sustainable or do you think the housing bubble in Iceland will potentially burst?
- What is a surprising fact or facts about the real estate market in Iceland that people outside of Iceland wouldn’t know?
- What is the process like for non Icelandic and non EEA citizens to buy property in Iceland?
- What advice do you have for first time home buyers in Iceland (Icelandic and foreign)?
- What is your favorite property that you have rented or sold?
- What is your favorite Icelandic word or phrase (doesn’t have to be related to real estate but it can if you want)?
- If people have questions about renting or buying a home in Iceland and want to talk to you, how can they reach you?
Diddi’s Contact Information
Email: [email protected]
Phone Number: +354-647-8052
Facebook: Diðrik Stefánsson
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I hope you enjoyed listening to this interview. I release a new podcast episode every week. Make sure you are subscribed to the All Things Iceland podcast so you don’t miss new episodes. If the platform you are listening to this podcast on allows you to leave a review, please do so, if you haven’t already.
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Thank you kindly for listening (and reading) and see you soon!