There can be no doubt that the buying and selling of American real estate is at an international frenzy. Whether as a second home, a safe haven investment, for fast-track citizenry (EB-5), as a home for a foreign-born student or as a new US based residence, non-US born nationals; especially from Canada, China, UK, Germany and India, are scooping up American real estate. Cash transactions dominate; but banks, previously reluctant to lend to non-US citizens, are seeing such customers as credit worthy investments. What real estate company is best suited to connect international buyers and American sellers to a successful conclusion? How about a real estate company that itself is an international company? There is none better than Hamburg, Germany based Engel & Völkers.
Who is Engel & Voelkers?
Since its beginning in 1977 as a specialty boutique providing exclusive, high-end real estate services in Hamburg, Germany, Engel & Völkers has become one of the world’s leading companies specializing in the sale and lease of premium residential and commercial property and yachts. Engel & Völkers currently operates a global network of over 5,000 real estate advisors in 550 residential brokerages and 43 commercial offices spanning 38 countries across six continents, offering both private and institutional clients a professionally tailored range of luxury services. It established its North America corporate headquarters in 2007 and opened its first brokerage in the same year. Committed to exceptional service, Engel & Völkers supports its advisors with an array of premium quality business services; marketing programs and tools; multiple platforms for mobile, social and web; as well as access to its global network of real estate professionals, property listings and market data.
Translation - concierge service of impeccable standards.
Engel & Völkers, also spelled Voelkers, has the majority of its US offices in three locations; thirteen offices in the Northeast, twenty-four in Florida and ten in the West. In fact, the twenty-four offices in Florida are the #2 producing region in the company after #1 Germany - where there are 300+ offices!
New offices have or are being established in Canada, Texas, Colorado, North Carolina and Atlanta.
Clearly you can see that Engel & Voelkers is an internationl real estate company with offices in the United States, not the other way around.
What differentiates Engel &Voelkers from other "international" real estate companies?
Engel & Voelkers has its own Mutiple Listing Service (MLS), its own internal email network and a web-based TV network that displays its listings into its offices.
I have created email groups for every region and country in Engel & Voelkers and can therefore exchange personal and professional information with each of the 550+ offices in less than a few minutes.
I do not have to search for international realtors or global business connections to sell US property - they are here at my door step!
Engel & Voelkers speaks the language. The vast majority of international buyers of US real estate speak English. But isn't it nice to hear your native language when working in an international transaction. The Realtors with Engel & Voelkers Florida Keys in Key West, FL speak English, German, Spanish, Rusian, Hindi, Hebrew, Thai and Italian. Posso aiutarla senore, o senora?
I understand the complexities of international cash sales, probable tax implications in the buyers' country, and have connections to resolve them, and recommend the use of Moneycorp to effect the conversion of currencies.
Conclusion
From its founding in 1977, Engel & Voelkers has been specifically engineered to buy and sell real estate across countries and cultures. Global real estate is a positive and growth oriented mindset, not a niche.
The local boutique broker is excellent for satisfying the local market with local buyers. But to hit the global target, sellers should understand a different skill set is required.
In Key West, FL, the only company with the skill set necessary to attract and keep the global buyer is Engel & Voelkers Florida Keys.
If you have any comments or questions, please contact me here.
Thank you and Good luck!
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