The company is also growing in Asia, with plans to establish an operation there this year, similar to its presence in Europe.
Identifying quality firms in far-reaching locations can prove challenging, according to Dietz. “Most countries do not have an MLS or an easy way to determine marketshare. Because we seek market-leading companies, we use other resources and references to determine which firms are a good fit. In most cases, I meet personally with a company’s broker,” he says.
LeadingRE has been able to leverage its international perspective and global membership talent to draw an increasingly international audience to its network events. More than 17 countries were represented at its network-wide annual conference in February in Las Vegas, and LeadingRE will also host its fifth annual International Symposium in Venice, Italy, on October 20-22.
These events allow affiliates to identify potential growth areas. “For example, the governments of Spain and Portugal are responding to the distressed real estate market by offering special visa programs to international property investors,” says LeadingRE President/CEO Pam O’Connor. “Our members may respond with more qualified cross-border referrals for buyers attracted by this incentive.”
