Samira Easton Directly Addresses camera:   Want to build more relationships with people who can drive international business your way? Even if you don't want to specialize in working with buyers from other countries. You'll likely find at least one out of every ten of the people you work with are coming from another country. So you should be aware of the cultural nuances and the basics of working with global buyers.
I'm Samir Easton, a broker associate with Premier Sotheby's International Realty in Venice, Florida. Let's take 5 minutes to learn how to broaden your outreach to real estate professionals who can connect you to those who want to buy property in the U.S. using resources from your local, state and the National Association of Realtors®. I have an international background, but you don't need one to start building relationships with foreign buyers.
What you do need, though, is education. Since real estate was a new field to me, coming from faculty at a university, I immediately earned my Certified International Property Specialist designation, or as they call it, CIPS, that opened a whole world of global real estate for me. The CIPS referral directory allows me to reach out to other CIPS designees working in the country where I want to do business.
The second action I suggest you take is to join your Realtor® Association's Global Business Council. It allows you to connect with other real estate professionals who specialize in working with global buyers. I also suggest joining the Florida Realtors® Global Alliance Committee. The key is that you are not just connecting with potential buyers. You're connecting and learning best practices from other agents who are experts at building relationships with global buyers of U.S. property.
Next, join a trade mission or attend an international real estate conference. Florida Realtors® host several trade missions every year. These will allow you to visit the country where you are specializing. Get to know real estate agents in that country and build relationships with potential buyers. For example, to build connections with Canadians who plan to move to Florida, attend Realtor® Quest, an annual conference in Toronto.
Trade missions allow Realtors® to visit different countries to see how they do business. Make connections and give them information about buying real estate in Florida. I always publish my listings on sites that reach global buyers. For example, Realtor.com now advertises in ten languages and has a platform called PROXIO that many MLS offer to their subscribers. There are also groups like the International Real Estate Federation or FIABCI, where you can publicize your listings.
Join other networking associations such as the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals, NAHREP or the Asian Association of Real Estate Professionals ARIA. They allow you to network with professionals working with other cultural groups. These are just a few of the resources available through your local, state and national association. There are also opportunities to join committees, become an ambassador and find local clubs and organizations that allow you to connect with potential buyers and sellers or other professionals who work with internationals.