Taking Real Estate Outside the Box; Outside the U.S.

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Op-ed by Michael Saunders

RISMEDIA, June 30, 2008-Even though tough times call for much more than the recommended dose of “outside-the-box” thinking, at Michael Saunders & Company we are now capitalizing on outside-the-box relationships we have been nurturing for years-the international market.

Having lived in Sarasota-Bradenton for virtually my entire life, and operated my own regional brokerage firm for the past 32 years (and counting), I can remember no time when international visitors haven’t been completely enamored of Florida’s Gulf Coast. Gorgeous weather, world-class beaches and much more than our fair share of cultural venues-all neatly tucked into a small-scale progressive city-provide all anyone could want in an all-purpose, resort-style destination.

Visit here once and it’s a safe bet you’ll be back again and again. So it has never been much of a stretch to consider our international guests as prime prospects for income-producing properties they can enjoy on holidays and vacations, rent out when they’re away, and eventually occupy full time should they so desire.
I set out to cultivate international brokerage partnerships immediately upon opening my doors in 1976. In today’s less-than-rosy marketplace, no one is more thankful than I that these relationships have borne fruit for many years-and now, more than ever before.

Today, with the feeble dollar, high housing inventories, low list prices and fabulously low interest rates, we are reaping the benefits like never before of seeds planted so many years ago. Indeed, while business is slowly picking up among domestic buyers, it has lately been clocked at a very high rate of speed among foreign buyers. I recently asked a roomful of about 150 of my associates to raise their hands if they were presently working with an international customer.

Ninety percent of the hands in the room went up. An equally impressive number of hands went up when I asked if any had actually consummated a sale. In just the past year, Michael Saunders & Company has accepted an exclusive invitation to be one of only two American affiliates of the European Real Estate Network-commonly known as EREN. Halstead Property of New York City is the other. With the addition of two new strategic partners in the U.S., EREN is now comprised of 22 leading property firms, operating 53 offices in 10 countries.

Likewise, we have recently joined forces with London-based Mayfair International Properties, another Pan-European brokerage alliance with 350 affiliate offices throughout the U.K. and continental Europe.

You can never have too many international affiliations, nor should you underestimate the everyday strategic value of long-term personal relationships forged with colleagues around the globe. For years, I have been actively associated with Leading Real Estate Companies of the World-and its luxury arm, Luxury Portfolio-whose affiliate companies number nearly 700 of the best independent firms in 38 countries. This has afforded me the opportunity to further broaden my base of strategic international partnerships and form some new ones along the way. We also offer sellers of luxury properties priced at $2 million and above the opportunity to market their homes under the prestigious global umbrella of Christie’s Great Estates-with 850 offices in 40 countries.

As I write this, representatives of my company are hosting a group of Austrians intent upon taking advantage of the excellent buying opportunities in my market area before they slip away. Well before year’s end, I will have the distinct pleasure of promoting Southwest Florida before international assemblies in Madrid and Milan (in July), Rome (in September) and London (in October). There’s never been a more advantageous time for foreign buyers to invest in American properties, especially in Florida.

Michael Saunders is founder and president of Michael Saunders & Company.

For more information, visit www.michaelsaunders.com.

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