Earn Your CIPS in Southern California this December!

Expand your business (and your wallet) with the Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) Designation! The West San Gabriel Valley Association of REALTORS® is offering this amazing course, starting December 13, 2010, and space is still available! View and download this form for more information and to register.

Video: Global Business Tips for REALTORS and their Clients

ASPAI’s 1st International Real Estate Congress – Lima, Peru on September 28-29, 2010

The Peruvian Association of Realtors (Asociación Peruana de Agentes Inmobiliarios - ASPAI) is very excited to be announcing its first International real estate conference: Real Estate Investment: Peru.

This congress is aimed to real estate professionals, real estate developers, the housing sector, real estate agents, schools, construction, notaries and all those professionals interested in real estate. Many of the presentations will be in English and all others will be offered in simultaneous English translation.

Finding Global Business in Your Market

Take a look at the demographics in your local market – chances are, you will see an increase in the multicultural population over the past 10 years. Take Milwaukee, Wisconsin for example. Located in the north-central United States, the city is considered part of the U.S. Midwest. From 1990 to 2000, Milwaukee saw the Hispanic and Asian population increase by 94% and 57% respectively, while that of the traditional White non-Hispanic population actually decreased by nearly 4%, according to a recent case study by the Gonzales Group. Between 2000 and 2008, the numbers were lower but still significant, with the Hispanic population growing at 36% and the Asian population growing at 43% and the White non-Hispanic population continuing to decrease by 4%.

Advanced expertise, a global perspective and distinct understanding of a global buyer are must-haves when working in international real estate. To capture your share of this growing market, education is key. By earning the Certified International Property Specialist designation, you are better equipped to serve the needs of the global buyer. Get started on your designation at the REALTORS® Conference & Expo, November 5-8 in New Orleans. Visit NAR Global for more information.

CIPS Networking Reception at Arcadia Association of REALTORS®, Sept. 30

The Arcadia CIPS Reception will take place during the CIPS course offered by the Arcadia Association and California Association of REALTORS®, September 27 – October 1. The Arcadia Association of REALTORS® is offering this course, for the first time, in Mandarin Chinese.

CIPS Networking Reception
Thursday, September 30, 2010
5:30 – 7 p.m.
Call to R.S.V.P. and for directions
(626) 445-8525 or (626) 446-2115

Cultural Awareness: Inclusive Multicultural Marketing

When serving a multicultural audience, you want to make sure that your practice incorporates diversity and complies with the Fair Housing Act. While you must recognize a diverse market base, any marketing plan – including the selection of media and publications for advertisements – that indicates a preference, limitation, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, family status, or national origin violates the Fair Housing Act.

Some tips to be sure that your marketing is inclusive but not in violation of the Fair Housing Act:

• Always focus on describing the property, not the person, in your advertising.
• Read and reread your advertising for words with hidden or double meanings.
• Think about what potential customers might think the message says.
• Don’t use slang or idiomatic expressions that might be misunderstood.
• Be inclusive.

Think glocal, act glocal

That is not a typing error in the headline! You might not realize it, but global real estate is happening locally, in your own backyard – it’s Glocal. If a client called you tomorrow and said, “I have been renting for six months each year when I visit the U.S. from Canada, now I’m ready to buy. Can you tell me if I need a special visa if I want to buy property while I’m here? Do I need special financing? How do you convert funds from Canadian to US currency for the transaction? Can we get it done before I have to go back?” -- would you know how to help this person?
While “global real estate” might sound like it only applies to million-dollar deals with prestigious foreign investors, it can be as simple as the example above. More than a quarter of a million REALTORS® have international clients, and 93% percent of REALTORS® have seen steady or increased international business, and those numbers are on the rise. If you have experienced a situation like this, you are a global REALTOR®! Learn more about what NAR and SBAOR offer to help you conduct these transactions with ease.

In 60-plus Countries, You have CIPS Personal Contacts

Sometimes, just having the right personal contact can be the spark you need to explore a new market opportunity. Through the CIPS directory, the CIPS Network provides members with the kind of personal contacts that can make that kind of difference in more than 60 countries around the world. For even more reach and visibility, Network members are also encouraged to join CIPS groups on social networking sites, such as Facebook or www.Realestateconnections.tv.
Read more.

Look Both Directions: Inbound and Outbound

U.S. real estate attracts international buyers for several reasons: foreigners may freely own, purchase, and transfer real estate; there is a large supply of residential and commercial investment-grade real estate available; the U.S. offers a reliable system for registration of property ownership and documenting real estate transactions, and the U.S. has a resilient economy and stable political climate. Also, in the case of Europe, the Euro to U.S. dollar exchange rate makes U.S. real estate more affordable, so the buyer gets “more house for the money”. For these reasons and many more, international buyers are seeking vacation homes in resort communities for investment or second-home properties.

On the outbound side, U.S. retirees are increasingly lured to the warm climates, low cost of living, and sometimes homeland ties of foreign countries. Your next client may be looking to list or buy a second home in countries that welcome retirees with reliable pension incomes, such as Panama, Mexico, Belize, India, Malaysia, or the Philippines.

Become an expert in these unique transactions –consider the Certified International Property Specialist designation classes being offered at the South Bay Association of REALTORS®, July 6 - 13. Early-bird pricing will expire on April 30, so don't delay!

Early CIPS registration - by April 30, 2010 $449 ($499 SBAOR nonmembers) full institute or $79 ($89 SBAOR nonmembers) per class

Click here for more details.

Source: National Association of REALTORS®

Photos from the California Dreaming Tour, November 2009

At the end of last year's California Dreaming Tour and during the November 2009 meetings of the National Association of REALTORS® in San Diego, we had the good fortune to meet with the leadership of the Australian real estate community.

We are pleased that the California Association of REALTORS® has recently become the Ambassador Association for the Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA). For more information, check out the links below:

• NAR International: www.realtor.org/global
• California Association of REALTORS®: www.car.org
• REIA: www.reia.com.au
• The Real Estate Institute of the Australian Capital Territory: www.reiact.com.au

At Terranea Resort, Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.
From left: Rob Druitt, REIA Board Director; David Airey, President, REIA; Tashia Hinchliffe, SBAOR International Committee Chair; Michael Wellsmore, President, Real Estate Institute of the Australian Capital Territory





At an International Committee event in Hermosa Beach, Calif.
From left: Gloria Godet, SBAOR International Committee Member; Michael Wellsmore; Rob Druitt; David Airey




At Terranea.
From left: Michael Wellsmore; Roger Phillips, SBAOR International Committee Member




At Terranea.
From Left: Michael Wellsmore; Marija Terzic, SBAOR International Committee Member; Rob Druitt; Roger Phillips; Tashia Hinchliffe; David Airey

Cultural Awareness

Whether or not you consider yourself an international practitioner, your web site is globally accessible. To make sure you are not losing a potential sale because of a cultural blunder, educate yourself on appropriate global marketing practices. Think about the pictures and colors you are using - in some cultures, photos of women or animals are discouraged. Likewise, green can symbolize hope and growth in some parts of the world while in others, it is associated with death, sickness, envy, or the devil. Similarly, in western cultures white is the color for the bride's gown, while in India widows wear white.

Another tip: translating is not as simple as getting the words right - for example Arabic is read from right to left, so a left justified Web page might not be visually appealing. Even the rules of bolding, underlining, capitalizing, and font selection vary between languages. For example, a font size of nine is less legible in some Asian languages. As always – do your research before you interact with a global audience and you will avoid some of these cultural faux pas.

Resort and Second-Home Real Estate

If last month’s issue has you wondering where and how second-home and international investments fit into a smaller market, we’ll turn you into believers in this issue. While it’s true that oceans and mountains draw the largest crowds of vacation-home owners, other individuals might follow their recreational interests or job relocation. For example, Hyundai recently moved 50 Korean executives to its new plant in Mobile, Alabama, resulting in second-home purchases for those whose families stayed in Korea. If your properties are near a military base, look to career military retirees, who find the proximity to a base makes it easier to access benefits like health care and PX shopping.

If your listings are centered in middle America, but near a college or university, think about the retirees who value the intellectual stimulations of an academic community. College sports attract alumni who rent vacation homes for big football weekends – think South Bend, Indiana, for Notre Dame football games. For properties in a small town without any major tourist attractions, think about the refuge they provide for city slickers. Or the surprising possibilities - the town of Marfa (population 2,000) in West Texas is increasingly a hub for the New York artistic community since noted artist Donald Judd settled there in 1971. The annual Open House festival sponsored by the Chinati Foundation and Judd Foundation draws thousands. UFO enthusiasts are also drawn to the famous and mysterious Marfa Lights phenomenon.

Get creative in your thinking! If you are looking for more ideas and/or a network to help you get started, look to the NAR Resort and Second-Home Property Specialist certification.

CAR is now Ambassador Association to the Real Estate Institute of Australia

The California Association of REALTORS® is now NAR's Ambassador Association to REIA, the Real Estate Institute of Australia. CAR President Steve Goddard will be traveling to Australia March 18 - 31 to attend REIA's National Conference and Awards event in Adelaide on Thursday, March 25th.
http://www.reia.com.au/real-estate-australia-national-awards-2010.php

REALTORS: Travel with Steve (or join him there) and help represent CAR at the Australian conference. While travel funding is not available, this Ambassadorial trip could be the perfect opportunity to increase your knowledge of the Australian real estate market and build your international business.

Qantas, V Australia, United, and American Airlines offer nonstop flights to Australia. Qantas and V Australia are offering flight specials to Australia which expire very soon. If your travel agent doesn't do it for you, you must to apply online for an Australian visa or an ETA (Electronic Travel Authority): http://www.eta.immi.gov.au/

Looking forward to having some fun Realtors join us on this trip.

Steve Goddard
President California Association of REALTORS® 2010
Steve@SteveGoddard.com

Tashia Hinchliffe
TashHD@aol.com
2009 & 2010 International Committee Chairwoman - South Bay Association of REALTORS®
2010 CAR Director - California Association of REALTORS®

Are you a commercial practitioner?

NAR is conducting a survey of commercial members to find out how changes in the economy and the markets impacted your business in 2009. Analysis of these survey results will allow NAR to more effectively serve you, as well as provide valuable information that you can use to enhance your business. In addition, the results of the survey will serve as a valuable foundation for NAR’s policy and regulatory efforts in support of commercial real estate. We encourage all international commercial practitioners to provide feedback. Take the survey