So, you’ve got a retiree on your hands. More and more are continuing to settle abroad – some even venturing to exotic locales in Central America and Southeast Asia. Did you know that retirees are becoming the fastest-growing segment of overseas buyers? Major hotspots include:
Mexico
The Caribbean
Costa Rica
Panama
Turkey
Malaysia
Thailand
The best is definitely yet to come for these folks! And while most are seeking the ideal climate and an affordable cost of living, many have also been attracted to the gated communities and resorts foreign countries have to offer.
How can you, as an agent, tap into this rapidly expanding niche? You’ve gotta go global!
ID your market. Beyond the obvious step of selecting your country of choice, it’s important to identify who you’re going to market your services to on the home front. Cast a wide net – your local market will likely have a relatively small amount of retirees, so it’s best to focus your efforts nationwide. Create a section on your website dedicated to second homes and international retirement, and, as always, promote your services across social media.
Go native. Plan on spending a significant amount of time in your destination of choice (no less than a week, NAR advises), and arrange meetings with all of the professionals involved in the buying process: mortgage lenders, attorneys, title insurance companies, property managers, etc. Additionally, join expat forums online to get a sense of the issues currently affecting the market in your country of choice.
Network, network, network. While you’re abroad, make it a point to network with local agents who can show you representative properties and school you on neighborhoods and landmarks. You’ll also want to reach out to developers, who bu
ild communities that cater exactly to the types of clients you’re looking to service. And, of course, network with other agents here who may have a client seeking a home overseas.
Blogging on this topic made me feel a bit like Carmen Sandiego. A girl can dream!
Is your biz going global?
Related:
70 Percent of Boomers Expect the House They Retire in to Be Their Best
Economy Forces Changes in Thinking About Retirement Homes
Nine Ways Air Travel is Better Than It's Ever Been
The preceding was adapted from RISMedia.com – original content can be found here. Image credit here.
Comments(4)