Interview: Amy Wong on her passion for residential real estate

“Nothing is more fun than driving past a building and being able to say: I worked on this project. That feeling never fades, even after multiple successful acquisitions and sales,” Amy says enthusiastically. Amy Wong has been working in real estate for several years now and takes us through her development as an advisor at Resi.

After completing her double master’s in Finance and Real Estate Finance in 2022, Amy started her career at Resi. As part of her degree, she interned with CBRE’s Residential Capital Markets team, where her passion for the housing market truly began to blossom.

A Chance Discovery
Although her résumé suggests otherwise, Amy’s journey into real estate was more of a coincidence. She explains: “It wasn’t actually a conscious choice to work in real estate. During my bachelor’s, I was mainly focused on the strategic side. Then I happened to come across the real estate minor and decided to dive into it.” Choosing to pursue the master’s in Finance and Real Estate Finance afterward added some extra pressure during her studies, since it required additional courses, but Amy gladly accepted the challenge.

Variety Is Key
Today, Amy works as an advisor at Resi, guiding transactions between investors and developers from start to finish. “Throughout these processes, we think alongside the client to achieve the right outcome,” she explains. Her role differs depending on the project: “That way you’re constantly being challenged.” At Resi, projects range from existing properties to new developments, and it’s precisely this variety that pushes Amy to develop her skills in multiple areas.

What Amy enjoys most are the wide-ranging projects she gets to work on. “Urban portfolios in Amsterdam are fantastic. You walk into a property and are immediately struck by the details: authentic ceilings, stately front doors, stylish kitchens,” she says. But she’s equally drawn to large-scale new developments. “Projects with hundreds of appartments, like the sustainable Mookly with 100% mid-market rental housing in Amsterdam, are impressive to be part of. The mix between smaller and larger projects is what excites me.”

Amy also has clear goals for the future: “At some point, I’d like to close a deal completely on my own. I don’t mind putting in the hours to get there, because the work is so diverse and full of challenges.” When it comes to personal growth and learning opportunities, Amy feels right at home at Resi.

Trusting Her Instincts
Amy first discovered Resi through a conversation with a former intern. When asked why she didn’t choose to start her career at a large corporate, Amy explains: “I didn’t immediately go for the biggest organization, but for a company where I truly felt a connection.” She found that at Resi, largely due to its informal atmosphere and the space to work independently. Especially at the start of a career, Amy believes this is important: “The trust and the opportunity to try things out for yourself, to be allowed to make mistakes, and to ask questions, those are invaluable.”

Finally, Amy offers some advice for students and aspiring real estate professionals: “Talk to as many people in the industry as you can. Have coffee, ask about their experiences, and discover whether this field really resonates with you. Above all, stay true to yourself and look for something that suits you. It’s good to step outside your comfort zone every now and then, but don’t consistently chase something that doesn’t align with who you are.”