ABoR Global

Top 15 Things Every Foreign Client Should Consider

THINK GLOBALLY, THRIVE LOCALLY

Central Texas has become quite the hotspot, catching the attention of international investors and homebuyers who are drawn to its strong economy, great quality of life, and vibrant creative scene. It's like a magnet for technology hubs and innovative minds worldwide!

With the real estate market going global, there's a growing demand for agents who understand the needs of international buyers. Embracing innovation and technology in the industry will help us serve our community better and maintain our position as a top real estate destination. Looking at Central Texas real estate with a global perspective gives agents a real edge in this expanding market.

Companies, both local and global, are investing in the region, while residential construction is booming to meet the increasing population.

According to the 2023 Central Texas International Homebuyers Report, there has been a notable rise in international transactions over the years. The dollar volume of foreign buyer purchases saw a slight dip, but the median home price of these purchases is on the rise.

Central Texas, especially in Travis County, is a favorite among foreign buyers, with Williamson County following suit. It's no wonder why having the know-how to assist global clients in navigating Austin's real estate market is a valuable skill.


GLOBAL ALLIANCE WITH CANADA

We first partnered with The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), signing a renewing Memorandum of Understanding in June 2020.

ABoR and CREA have continued with ongoing programming, events, and networking, including The Canadian Road Show–LIVE in Calgary in 2023.

The Great Canadian Road Trip: Live in Calgary, Alberta was the first of its kind in Alberta. Bringing REALTORS® together from the United States and Canada to learn about real estate and business ecosystems. The 2-day multi-faceted event offered education, business enhancement opportunities, and a look at advocacy and public relations in real estate. REALTORS® had unparalleled networking opportunities over the two days in Calgary!

And better yet, we took our standing collaboration with CREA Global and extended it to include the Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB), REALTORS® Association of Edmonton (RAE), and Texas REALTORS®.

AMBASSADOR ASSOCIATION

The Austin Board of REALTORS® is the National Association of REALTORS® Ambassador Association to Ireland and the Institute of Professional Auctioneers & Valuers (IPAV), headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. IPAV signed a bilateral partnership agreement with NAR in 2015. In August 2020, the Austin Board of REALTORS® was confirmed as the Ambassador Association to Ireland and IPAV.

In July 2022, we took our first international trip as an association as the NAR Ambassador Association to Ireland where we met with the IPAV leadership at their headquarters in Dublin and attended their Annual General Meeting in Athlone, Ireland. As a featured speaker on the Emerald Isle, ABoR CEO Emily Chenevert helped us take the next big step in building relationships with real estate associations worldwide. Read more about the partnership here.

In 2023, we held an inaugural collaboration with local real estate associations around the U.S. (Austin, Atlanta, Boston, Chicagoland, New York City–Hudson Valley, and San Francisco), bringing together the top markets with a strong historical connection between the USA and Ireland. We are pleased to share that ABoR Global was awarded the NAR Ambassador Association of the Year Award in November 2023.

Check out the 2024 calendar of events for the Global Business Alliance and Global Ambassadors. Here is a sampling of international conferences you may want to consider attending when building your global business.

NEWEST MOU GLOBAL PARTNER

The Asociación Mexicana de Profesionales Inmobiliarios (AMPI), and ABoR entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on September 30, 2022, as part of our continued commitment to our collaborations and to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

Like our MOU with the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and global partnership with IPAV, this new partnership with AMPI will encourage cross-border collaboration, provide an avenue to exchange information, promote professionalism, and provide broader educational opportunities for our respective memberships. This will continue our efforts to help real estate agents in México and Texas become more knowledgeable of each other's marketplace and better facilitate cross-border referrals.

If you are interested in learning more about these or other countries of interest, please don’t hesitate to contact our ABoR Global Advisory or Global Ambassadors to help you navigate and make appropriate introductions where they can.

ABoR members can access economic reports, training resources, and more in our Document Library, including our 2024 Global Handbook.