I just returned from our FIABCI Spring Business Meetings in Alexandria, VA, and as always the meetings proved to be both educational and great business. A quick recap….

Most of my clients and friends know that I work in the international real estate market, but not all know how that applies directly to my business right here in Portland. It’s simple – while all real estate is local, to be truly effective we have to operate on the global stage.

Consider this:
1. Trade between the United States and Canada (our largest trading partner) is at the rate of over $1,000,000 per minute.
2. Closer to home, Oregon and Canada trade $16,000,000 in goods daily – and bilateral trade supports 88,750 jobs in Oregon.
(source for both, Canadian Embassy briefing, Washington DC, March 26, 2010).

How does this affect a local seller of real estate?

While all sellers expect their property to go on the MLS and the broker’s website – unique, high-end and investment properties need more. Much more. This is where FIABCI members can offer a seller a tremendous competitive advantage over every other broker.

• FIABCI members are members of Proxio, a global MLS exchange for practitioners who work with international clients.
• We can broadcast messages directly to FIABCI members around the globe to announce our special properties. This is supply and demand at work; I can maximize the supply of potential buyers.
• At each business meeting, we can promote our featured listings to brokers from around the world – FACE to FACE. In the age of social media, we all know that face to face networking still yields the best results.

Prior to the meetings, many of us also attended a class on Global Real Estate that was conducted by a visiting professor from University of Denver. We were reminded that the United State is still considered the best real estate market in the world, so it is key to promote our local market outside our backyard.

So, as the U.S. continues to attract global real estate buyers, I will do my part to make sure that Oregon is on the world’s radar!