International Real Estate in Texas:Cindy Fauth, Commercial & Global Services

National Association of REALTORS®

Texas International Homebuyers Report

12% of all international buyers

in U.S.

Impact is Immense

$11.06 Billion

Texas International Homebuyers Report

Third-largest immigration population in U.S.

6 of the top metro areas for immigration:

#6 Houston|Sugar Land|Baytown#8 Dallas|Fort Worth|Arlington

#26 Austin|Round Rock|San Marcos#27 San Antonio|New Braunfels

#28 El Paso#40 McAllen|Edinburg|Mission

Texas International Homebuyers Report

Naturalized citizens: 12% more likely to

own a home than native Texans

Over 75% of naturalized U.S. citizens in

Texas are homeowners, compared to only

63.5% of native citizens in Texas.

What Makes Texas So Attractive?

Criteria driving

destination choice:

Proximity to home country/airport.

Presence of relatives, friends, associates.

Job/education opportunities.

Climate and location.

Affordability.

Texas International Homebuyers Report

59% 18% 9% 5% 4%

Texas International Home Buyers Report

• Over 65% of Mexican homebuyers in U.S.

purchased in Texas.

• Mexican homebuyers accounted for $4.5 billion, or

approximately 5%, of all international home sales.

• 62% purchased to relocate, while 33% purchased a

home to serve as a vacation home or rental property.

• 46% paid with cash, 54% financed with a mortgage.

Foreign buyers spent $149,000 more (mean

purchase price) on homes in the U.S. than domestic buyers.

60% of foreign buyers paid in all cash, versus

about a third of domestic (U.S.) buyers.

59% of international clients were from

referrals.

NAR’s Profile of International Home Buying Activity

Realtor.com International

What should you be doing?

1. Don’t assume international clients are searching the same way U.S. clients do.

Commonalities: Internet Connection, Content, Video

2. Establish a niche.

What countries/cultures are your affinity? Think about:-Heritage-Language-Geographic location -Personal interests

What’s the draw for foreigners to your market? - Foreign companies- University/community college- Luxury properties, condos, coastline, or other lifestyle attributes

What should you be doing?

China: They don’t have Google. They use Baidu. What are their SEO search requirements/algorithms?

Establish a niche, think about how they search.

What should you be doing?

China: Uses SouFun real estate search engine.

Canada: Zoocasa

Tips from NAR Global

3. Video transcends language. Quality video of properties to market overseas. Visuals overcome language and timezone barriers.

4. Be the expert. What do you offer that they can’t Google?Know your market and neighborhoods in YOUR area.

Tips from NAR Global

Tips from NAR Global

5. Use tech to connect your offline connections online. Make it easy for people to get to you. Skype.FaceTime. Use Google Translate to respond electronically in their language (even if it’s just a phrase or two!)

CONTACT INFO ON EVERY PAGE OF YOUR SITE!

Tips from NAR Global

Challenges:

Language

Ability to travel

Too complicated, too time-consuming

Obtaining financing

Type of properties sought

REALTOR.ORG/GLOBAL

THEGLOBALVIEW.BLOGS.REALTORS.ORG

Give and Receive Referral Business

www.realtor.org/earncips

How can NAR help? How Can NAR Help?

Research

Education

Bilateral Partnerships

Global Business Councils

realtor.org/global

Join the Conversation

Facebook.com/narglobal

Twitter.com/narglobal

LinkedIn Official Group: NAR Global

The Global View Bloghttp://theglobalview.blogs.realtor.org/

Questions?

Cindy Fauth Marketing & Communications Commercial and Global Services

+1.312.329.8627cfauth@realtors.org