The Houston Association of REALTORS®’ (HAR) International Advisory Group has been named a Platinum Council in the National Association of REALTORS®’ (NAR) 2011 Global Business Council Achievement Program. The prestigious designation recognizes the HAR International Advisory Group for promoting global and multicultural real estate business opportunities throughout the Houston market.
“Your council has demonstrated the utmost commitment to helping members capture their share of the global real estate market in the United States,” said Janet Branton, Sr. VP of NAR’s Global Business and Alliances Group in announcing HAR’s designation.
“We are extremely honored to be recognized as a Platinum council by the National Association of REALTORS®,” said HAR International Advisory Group Chairman Richard Miranda with Keller Williams Realty. “Millions of consumers know about HAR, but many are unaware of the huge scope of international and multicultural business being conducted by our member real estate professionals every day. As a global gateway with one of the most ethnically diverse populations of any major city, Houston offers countless business opportunities in international real estate.”
HAR has more than 5,300 members who are fluent in any of 91 spoken languages. Consumers can easily search on HAR’s award-winning HAR.com website for REALTORS® who have identified themselves as multilingual or multicultural.
HAR’s commitment to international real estate is not limited to foreign nationals who are purchasing or selling property throughout Greater Houston. One entire area of HAR’s Multiple Listing Service, or MLS, is exclusively devoted to overseas property listings. It is known as MLS Area 82 (Other – International) and is located within HAR.com’s “Find a Home” section.
HAR also offers NAR-accredited courses for REALTORS® seeking the Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) designation. One of the most well attended CIPS programs that HAR has ever presented took place over five days last July. Courses covered an analysis of the international business climate, including capital flow, currencies, government regulations and cultures. Others addressed the logistics of conducting real estate transactions with clients from throughout Europe, Asia and Mexico/The Americas.
