Real Estate Professionals and the Global Marketplace

Quick Takeaways

Use high-quality photos and videos
Tailor the house description to your target audience
Spell out details, such as measurements in feet or meters

Source: How to Market Your Home to Foreign Buyers: A Complete Guide (Clever Real Estate, Jan. 30, 2024)

In the context of international real estate opportunities, agents specialize in facilitating transactions across borders, helping clients navigate the complexities of foreign real estate markets, legal requirements, currency exchange, and cultural differences.

Some key points about real estate agents and international opportunities include:

Market Knowledge: Agents specializing in international real estate opportunities have in-depth knowledge of global property markets, including trends, regulations, and investment potential in different countries and regions.

Networking: They have a vast network of contacts, including local agents, developers, legal advisors, and financial institutions, which they leverage to assist clients in finding suitable properties and navigating the buying or selling process.

Legal and Financial Expertise: International real estate transactions often involve complex legal and financial considerations. Agents work closely with legal professionals and financial advisors to ensure that clients comply with local laws, understand tax implications, and secure financing options.

Cultural Understanding: Understanding cultural nuances is crucial in international real estate transactions. Agents with experience in global markets are adept at navigating cultural differences, language barriers, and negotiation styles to facilitate successful deals.

Risk Management: International real estate investments carry inherent risks related to currency fluctuations, geopolitical factors, and market volatility. Agents help clients assess and manage these risks by providing comprehensive risk analysis and mitigation strategies.

Diversification: Investing in international real estate offers diversification benefits by spreading risk across different markets and asset classes. Agents assist clients in identifying investment opportunities that align with their financial goals and risk tolerance.

Overall, real estate agents specializing in international opportunities play a vital role in facilitating cross-border transactions, providing expertise, and helping clients capitalize on global real estate markets' potential for growth and diversification.

See References for more information.

References

NAR Library & Archives has already done the research for you. References (formerly Field Guides) offer links to articles, eBooks, websites, statistics, and more to provide a comprehensive overview of perspectives. EBSCO articles (E) are available only to NAR members and require the member's nar.realtor login.

Networking Opportunities at Home & Abroad

2024 International Conferences / Meetings & Events

FIABCI World Real Estate Congress

Like many other countries, Singapore has largely moved towards renewing and engaging new global and business ties as the world steers steadily from pandemic into endemic situation. Businesses are fast evolving and finding new ways to progress or just simply to sustain amidst fierce market competition and unexpected new challenges.

With connectivity and communication at a click of a button or blink of an eye, businesses and professionals need to be equipped with the right mental tools and be ready for business in the next millennium.

May 27-31, 2024

Singapore

MIT World Real Estate Forum

The post-pandemic real estate industry is experiencing a transformation on an unprecedented scale. The MIT Center for Real Estate—on its 40th anniversary—is convening its 2024 World Real Estate Forum in June to offer perspective, insight, and direction for practitioners in addressing challenges and implementing innovations.

June 17-18, 2024

Cambridge, MA

BOMA International Conference & Expo

The 2024 BOMA International Conference & Expo is your go-to source for cutting-edge solutions that give you a new (and confident) outlook on what’s next. Get expert insights on the latest decarbonization and sustainability initiatives, and trade ideas with your peers on popular occupant amenities.

July 13-16, 2024

Philadelphia, PA

SIOR'S International Conference: Berlin

Join industrial and office leaders from across the globe for our next international conference in Berlin, Germany. Come together to share tactical knowledge, hear different perspectives on emerging market trends and form strong relationships that facilitate business deals.

July 17-19, 2024

Berlin, Germany

EXPO REAL

The international trade fair for real estate and investment represents the complete value chain of the real estate industry: whether development, financing or realization, at EXPO REAL participants have the opportunity to meet the decision-makers of the real estate industry on site.

October 7-9, 2024

Munich, Germany

International Real Estate Information Sources

AFIRE

Established in 1988 AFIRE is a nonprofit trade association headquartered in Washington, DC, and is an essential forum providing high-value thought leadership for real estate leaders from around the world. AFIRE’s members includes nearly 200 leading global institutional investors, investment managers, and supporting partners from 24 countries representing approximately US$3 trillion in real estate assets under management (AUM) in the US.

Global Property Guide

Our focus is financial. You may know what type of property you want. That's your choice, and it is partly or largely subjective. What you probably won't know is the rent that you might earn in another country, what you'll be taxed, and what the landlord and tenant law is, whether the property market appears to have good prospects. We examine these financial aspects of your purchase, comparing them across countries, so as to help you make choices.

The World Property Journal

Our editorial focus and goal is simple -- to help all active property buyers, sellers, investors and tenants worldwide -- make more informed transaction decisions. Period.

Finding & Working with International Clients

How Do I Market My Home to International Buyers? (The Best Sarasota Real Estate, Apr. 3, 2024)

Put it in their language. No matter where your home listing goes on the internet, provide a translation option so they can read it in their native language. Moreover, don’t forget to convert measurements, like square footage to square meters.

How to Market Your Home to Foreign Buyers: A Complete Guide (Clever Real Estate, Jan. 30, 2024)

Translate property listings and marketing materials into languages most spoken by potential international buyers. Prioritize Mandarin Chinese and Spanish, but also consider Russian, Arabic, Portuguese, French, German, and Hindi.

Attract International Real Estate Clients with These Strategies (AgentFire, Oct. 29, 2023)

Engagement and views on your online posts can be heavily determined by when you post. Post at 2 a.m. in your client’s time zone and your post will be buried by the time they wake up. If your clients are located around the world, time zones will play a larger factor than usual in the success of your campaigns.

International Transactions in U.S. Residential Real Estatepdf?_gl=1*29gxlm*_gcl_au*MTUwNjY5MjU1NC4xNzA5MDQzODAw (National Association of REALTORS®, 2023)

Top 5 Foreign Buyers

China (13% of foreign buyers, $13.6 B)

Mexico (11% of foreign buyers, $4.2 B)

Canada (10% of foreign buyers, $6.6 B)

India (7% of foreign buyers, $3.4 B)

Colombia (3% of foreign buyers, $0.9 B)

2022 Profile of International Homebuyer Transactionspdf (Miami Association of REALTORS®/National Association of REALTORS®, Dec. 2022)

Top Foreign Buyers

Argentina (16%), Colombia (13%), Canada (8%), Peru (8%), Chile (6%), Mexico (6%), Venezuela (6%), Brazil (6%).
Foreign buyers came from 54 countries

Destination of Foreign Buyers

Miami-Dade County (67%), Broward County (27%), Palm Beach County (2%), and Other counties (4%)

CFIUS Real Estate Instructions (Part 802) (U.S. Department of the Treasury)

Pursuant to FIRRMA, CFIUS is authorized to review certain transactions involving the purchase or the lease by, or a concession to, a foreign person of certain real estate in the United States, beginning on February 13, 2020.

Global Resources From the REALTOR® Organization

Center for Real Estate Development is an Internet-based education delivery system where real estate professionals can takes courses online.

Unlock global real estate opportunities through the Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) designation, catering to diverse audiences such as international investors, U.S. residents exploring new markets, and local clients eyeing overseas property investments. The CIPS designation equips you with essential knowledge, research capabilities, a valuable network, and tools for business expansion.

The Certified International Property Specialist Network (CIPS) is made up of real estate professionals in over 60 countries, who focus on an international clientele. Through NAR's alliances with 81 national and regional Cooperating Associations worldwide, more and more members are joining the network from outside the United States. You can locate a CIPS Network member through our online directory by specific business, location and language specialties.Also follow CIPS on Facebook.

Global Alliances — NAR maintains formal relationships with more than 100 organized real estate associations around the world, giving REALTORS® confidence in working with professionals that abide by a code of ethics. These bilateral partnerships exist in 77 countries to help you establish business partnerships and referral opportunities.

Global Perspectives — a bimonthly newsletter, which serves as a resource for global professionals who wish to globalize their local market.

Global Resources for Association Executives — The first step toward building global business is to raise awareness among REALTORS® that opportunities exist at the local level. Nearly every REALTOR® in America has access to global and multicultural clients, but many are unaware of the possibilities that engagement of those groups can create .Association Executives can promote global awareness and business in many ways.

International REALTOR® Membership — Members of NAR bilateral partners throughout the world can join NAR and take advantage of the power of a million-plus member organization. In an industry where relationships are key to business success, this membership helps you stand out among other professionals.

International Real Estate Research — from The National Association of REALTORS® Find out about international transactions in U.S. residential real estate, state-by-state international business reports and much more.

Realtor.com® International — Discover our list of all the available countries/regions and start searching for your global property.

Resort Area & Second Home Specialty Resources on nar.realtor — Find out about the Resort and Second-Home Property Specialist and connect with other members working in this real estate segment.

For more resources and information on global issues visit: www.nar.realtor/global.

eBooks & Other Resources

eBooks.realtor.org

The following eBooks and digital audiobooks are available to NAR members:

The AFIRE Guide to U.S. Real Estate Investing (eBook)

The Brazilian Economy (eBook)

Business Across Cultures (eBook)

Business Without Borders: A Strategic Guide to Global Marketing (eBook)

Buying a Property in Eastern Europe for Dummies (eBook)

Chinese Business Etiquette and Culture (eBook)

Communicating Globally An Integrated Marketing Approach (eBook)

The Global Etiquette Guide to Africa and the Middle East: Everything You Need to Know for Business and Travel Success (eBook)

Global Etiquette Guide to Mexico and Latin America (eBook)

Global Color: Clues and Taboos (eBook)

The Global Property Investor's Toolkit (eBook)

Foreign Language Study eBook Collection (eBook, Audiobook)

International Real Estate Handbook (eBook)

Investing in International Real Estate For Dummies (eBook)

Multicultural Manners (eBook)

Risk in the Global Real Estate Market (eBook)

Understanding the Global Market (eBook)

Have an idea for a real estate topic? Send us your suggestions.

The inclusion of links on this page does not imply endorsement by the National Association of REALTORS®. NAR makes no representations about whether the content of any external sites which may be linked in this page complies with state or federal laws or regulations or with applicable NAR policies. These links are provided for your convenience only and you rely on them at your own risk.