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This article is part of a paid Content Partnership with the advertiser, Karen Benvin Ransom. Daily Voice has no involvement in the writing of the article and the statements and opinions contained in it are solely those of the advertiser.

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Local Realtor Goes Global

I am reporting back from The Leading Real Estate Companies of the World and Luxury Properties International Real Estate Symposium in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Karen Benvin Ransom in Dubrovnik, Croatia

Karen Benvin Ransom in Dubrovnik, Croatia

Photo Credit: Contributed

Dobro Jutro - Good Morning - or is it Dobro Dan - Good Day? Kako ste? How are you? I went to Croatia already knowing these phrases from my parents and grandparents and left with the same vocabulary.

What language I DID learn broke all boundaries, languages and currencies. Houlihan Lawrence has a very prestigious membership in Leading Real Estate Companies of the World plus their Luxury Portfolio Division. It is “by invitation” only. Leading Real Estate enlists from 30 countries, encompassing 500 firms, 9 languages and 60 currencies. All of our listings are posted on the website for Leading Real Estate Companies of The World. Those priced over $1 million are also on Luxury Portfolio.

The only 200 companies worldwide that may belong to Luxury Portfolio did $314 billion in sales last year, 1 million transactions and in 50 countries.

The attendees at the Symposium came from: Istanbul, Turkey; Berlin, Germany; Paris, France; Calgary, Canada; Verona and Milan, Italy; Bucharest, Romania; Dublin, Ireland; Geneva, Switzerland; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Shanghai, China; Madrid, Spain; and a new member – Croatia, plus the U.S.

Global Mobility is on the rise. International second home sales are up 22%. Real Estate is lifestyle, time is luxury. On the Luxury Portfolio site a viewer can translate languages as well as currency and there is an easy way to search properties by architectural style and luxury rentals.

As in the U.S., schools do matter to everyone. If a family from any other country in the world sends their children to the U.S. for university, they will very likely buy a home here for their visits or at least a condo for their child. Today in the business world it is becoming more important on a resume that one has some foreign experience. Post grads are very open to working and living far from home. Also children of boomers will be inheriting money and it is anticipated that there will be purchases of larger, and second homes. They have the world as their real estate stage.

Here are some interesting facts about countries that participated in The Symposium:

In Ireland education is free and their tech industry is being revived – therefore that attracts more international buyers. In Dublin there is only a three month inventory. Homes over $700,000 US are usually purchased for all cash and those under $700,000 sell in two weeks time.

Greece is offering a Gold Visa to people who invest in either real estate or in a capitol endeavor – such as starting a business.

Turkey is experiencing a surge due to its proximity to a region of conflict. It is a safe haven for their families and their wealth. Turkey is a country which straddles both Europe and Asia. They have 629 seaside mansions and they are getting a lot of buyers from the troubled Ukraine.

I also learned that other than for real estate, Berlin, Germany is a great place to start a business. If you want to open a restaurant in this first class city, you can get your liquor license in a day - just fill out the paperwork. I learned that 75% of new businesses in Berlin are started by foreign investors. Also, a University education is free to German citizens and that will now be extended to foreign students as well.

An agency in Geneva, Switzerland has reached out to the Geneva branch of the Bank of China in order to assist their money/asset managers and private investor services.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico has also suffered from a deep recession and had bad press about situations from other parts of their country. Housing prices have dropped dramatically. However, Silvia Elias from PV Realty invites Anderson Cooper down to Puerto Vallarta to show that the Cancun drug cartel problems do not exist there. There is little to no money for mortgages there so that has driven the average price down.

An interesting session at The Symposium was Marketing to the Chinese - Understanding the China Opportunity. China has 650 billionaires – only 358 are reported. Their economy grows by 20% a year. The Chinese take their time – they do their own research, therefore we were told to be patient and just supply them with the materials they need in order to consider a purchase.

Juwai, which Houlihan Lawrence is associated with and we have our listings on their website is the #1 Award Winning Lifestyle – not Real Estate – Magazine/Website. They publish lifestyle articles and have so far published over 30,000 articles. There was a representative from Juwai there to speak to us. I asked what the word Juwai meant - and he smiled and said - no one ever asks us that - it means – “House Overseas”!

“Luxury Portfolio Magazine” is available in 60 Countries. It is very popular in China and in Switzerland – they love the glossy pages about luxury. Luxury Portfolio also advertises in Velocity – the Magazine for the London City Airport. This airport is used by business people all over the world who travel in and out of London. Velocity is available on business flights and private planes.

Leading Real Estate Companies of The World has opened the gates to international business in real estate. On their website they will be starting a new feature - “Find Your New Home" and “See What It Is Like There". There will be photos submitted by agents and short blog posts about an area in order to let people know what it is like to live there. They will feature neighborhoods, recreation, attractions, street scenes, cultural activities and dining spots.

I am already helping to build our pages on The Town of Bedford and Northern Westchester for this new feature by submitting the many photographs I have taken for my various websites and my real estate marketing. I am happy to announce that I was given the first award for submissions.

So, in addition to being a local expert for incoming families and one who knows how to highlight life here in order to showcase a client’s home, I now have international connections across the globe. The world is a much smaller place! For more information on my local and global connections go to www.KarenFromKatonah.com.

This article is part of a paid Content Partnership with the advertiser, Karen Benvin Ransom. Daily Voice has no involvement in the writing of the article and the statements and opinions contained in it are solely those of the advertiser.

To learn more about Content Partnerships, click here.

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