The focus of the HAR International Advisory Group is to enhance and bring value to our members’ international real estate transactions while creating opportunities, awareness and benefits of thinking globally and working locally. We welcome the New Year filled with events and activities put together by your international advisory group that promote the many opportunities available to you by working with global clients.

We want to create global awareness for HAR REALTOR® members by providing top notch international education courses through the year. This summer, we are planning to offer the week long NAR Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) Institute for those that want to earn this prestigious designation. Just FYI, this designation is pronounced C- I- P- S, not sips as I sometimes hear it mistakenly pronounced. It is similar to our association acronym being correctly pronounced H- A- R and not har!

Another one of the most important courses we offer is the “Risk Reduction in International Transactions” class. The focus of this class is how to avoid the issues common to inbound and outbound real estate transactions. Other courses we also hope to offer this year include: Doing Business South of the Border, a class on Feng Shui and if we obtain sponsors we want to offer a working lunch program called Around the World in 60 minutes featuring current global topics such as taxes for foreigner investors in Texas. Be on the look out for location, dates, and times by frequently checking the HAR.com education page at www.har.com/edu

If you would like to receive news about upcoming international classes sign up for free through the HAR member finder database where you can indicate if you speak another language or specialize in another culture. This action makes you part of the 4,000 plus member international program here at HAR and you will receive course information before the general membership.

The 2nd annual Texas Association of Realtors® International Cruise is right around the corner. From April 28- May 5, 2013 the Cruise will sail from Galveston to the Grand Caymans, Jamaica and Cozumel. This is not your typical MCE Cruise! You will learn how international real estate works and how to be successful. Property tours will also be provided. For more information visit the Texas Association of REALTORS® web site.

We have been hard at work on a new look to the HAR international site which allows you to search property listings in six different languages. We currently have about 200+ international listings and are hoping to grow that number as REALTOR® members become more involved and aware of the benefits of working on global transactions. The new look of the site will also include a section on relocating to the Houston area as well as a section on investing in Houston real estate. We realize the majority of global transactions are inbound to the Houston area and not the other way around.

As we move forward in the year we will continue to promote the benefits of using an HAR REALTOR® by thinking globally and working locally by staying actively involved with several key groups. These groups include the City of Houston, The World Affairs Council, The Greater Houston Partnership, as well as affiliate organizations such as the Asian American Real Estate Association Houston chapter, The Real Estate Association Latinos, FIABCI – the world wide international real estate organization as well as the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals Houston chapter. Our goal is to continue to build strong relationships for the HAR international program and thus benefit our members who participate in global transactions.

The international advisory group will continue to participate in community outreach and serve dinner for the fourth year in a row at the Ronald McDonald House in the Medical Center. HAR members prepare the food, serve dinner to the house residents and then clean up the kitchen.

In Conclusion, The International Advisory group is excited to welcome in the New Year and continue with bringing international awareness to all HAR REALTOR® members by staying actively involved with external organizations and brainstorming creative new ideas that will benefit and enhance the HAR international program. We continue to strongly encourage everyone to expand their horizons by getting involved in global real estate activities and seek and learn the appropriate knowledge.

Edna Corona, CIPS
HAR International Advisory Group Chair 2013-14
DELCOR International Realty
edna@delcorinternationalrealty.com