Elena Manzhos

Elena Manzhos is the founder and lead real estate agent of Luxury Villa Italy, a licensed professional who has been working in the Italian real estate market since 2011.

Elena is a native Ukrainian and Russian speaker and also works in Italian and English. She specialises in assisting international clients with the purchase and sale of prestigious properties in Italy.

Her experience combines in-depth knowledge of the local real estate market with something particularly important for foreign buyers: an understanding of what it means to purchase property in a country where procedures, documents and professional practices can differ significantly from those in your home country.

Professional Background

Over a Decade of Experience in Italian Luxury Real Estate

Since 2011, Elena has worked primarily in the upper segment of the Italian residential property market, including luxury villas, apartments, historic estates, waterfront homes and off-market properties.

She works mainly with international buyers and property owners who value confidentiality, accurate information and careful guidance throughout every stage of the transaction.

Her work goes beyond property selection. Elena coordinates the different professionals involved in the purchase, helps clients understand the documentation and supports negotiations through to the final deed before an Italian notary.

Licence and Professional Associations

Elena is a licensed Italian real estate agent, registered with the Milan Chamber of Commerce (CCIAA No. 16317; REA No. 1970497).

She is also a member of FIAIP — Federazione Italiana Agenti Immobiliari Professionali, one of Italy’s leading professional associations for real estate agents, FIAIP membership No. 26699.

Professional Recognition

15 Years of FIAIP Membership

In 2026, Elena received official recognition from FIAIP for 15 years of membership in the Federation.

FIAIP certificate recognising Olena Manzhos for 15 years of membership

This long-standing professional membership reflects her continued activity in the Italian real estate sector and her commitment to working in accordance with recognised professional standards.

Areas of Expertise

A Trusted Adviser for International Buyers

Elena’s work is particularly focused on helping foreign buyers purchase property in Italy safely and clearly understand the entire process.

For an international buyer, choosing the right property is only one part of the transaction.

It is equally important to understand issues such as cadastral documentation, planning compliance, preliminary contracts, property taxes, negotiations and the role of the Italian notary.

Elena coordinates these aspects together with the appropriate technical and legal professionals, helping clients identify potential issues before they become real problems.

Areas Covered

Elena works primarily in some of Italy’s most important luxury real estate markets: Milan and the Italian Lakes — including Lake Como, Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore — as well as Liguria, Sardinia and Tuscany.

Through the professional network of Luxury Villa Italy, she can also assist clients searching for exceptional properties in other regions of Italy.

Languages

Elena works directly with clients in Ukrainian, Russian, Italian and English.

This multilingual approach is particularly important when buying property abroad, where misunderstandings during negotiations or incorrect interpretation of documents and procedures can have serious consequences.

Whenever possible, Elena communicates directly with clients, without adding another intermediary between the buyer and the transaction.

Continuing Professional Education

Regular FIAIP Professional Training

Elena regularly takes part in professional training organised by FIAIP Nazionale, FIAIP Lombardia and FIAIP Milano to remain up to date with regulatory, contractual, tax and operational changes affecting the Italian real estate market.

Recent training programmes have focused, among other topics, on:

the responsibilities of real estate agents and intermediaries;
anti-money laundering regulations, related obligations and professional liability;
the Italian Budget Law and its impact on real estate professionals;
tax optimisation for real estate agencies;
short-term rental agreements and related operational matters;
tenant financial reliability assessment;
residential and commercial leases;
preliminary sale agreements and analysis of the required documentation;
management of agreements between the parties.

Continuing professional education is particularly important in Italy, where changes in legislation, taxation and documentation requirements can directly affect the security and structure of a real estate transaction.

Working Approach

Elena’s approach combines technical verification with commercial strategy.

Before a property is presented to international buyers, particular attention is given to the available information and documentation, including, where appropriate, cadastral and planning matters.

Once the property is ready to enter the market, the commercial strategy may include professional photography, detailed property information, international promotion and direct presentation to qualified buyers.

For confidential properties, Elena also works with off-market sales, where information can be disclosed selectively and, where appropriate, only after the signing of a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) or the provision of Proof of Funds.

The goal is simple: the buyer should understand as clearly as possible what they are buying, where they are buying and how the transaction will proceed.