By Teresa King Kinney, CEO, Realtor Association of Greater Miami and The Beaches
For South Florida real estate agents, the opportunities are endless regarding international business. Our market attracts thousands of new full-time and seasonal residents each day. Warm weather, cultural diversity and a strategic geographic location are just a few of the things that draws buyers to invest in South Florida.
It is important for agents to take advantage of the opportunities that our market offers. The Realtor Association of Greater Miami and the Beaches (RAMB) realizes the importance of establishing international ties with worldwide real estate markets to create networking and referral business opportunities for South Florida agents. International expos, conferences, trade missions and other events are some of the activities that help develop relationships and bring visibility to agents and our market.
Trade missions
RAMB welcomed two incoming trade missions in November from our partner associations in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Moscow, Russia, following NARdi Gras (the National Association of Realtors Annual Conference and Expo) in New Orleans.
During their stay in South Florida, our Brazilian and Russian friends were able to learn more about investment opportunities in our market and to present information on their marketplaces at planned seminars, receptions, tours, dinners and events.
Russian Guild of Realtors
Leaders and members of the Russian Guild of Realtors (RGR) in Moscow, Russia, arrived in Miami on Nov. 12. Led by RGR President Alex Romanenko and Marina Strelnikova, the trade mission began on Nov. 13 with RAMB’s signature Miami River Real Estate Boat Tour.
Featuring over 30 developments, including luxury condos, affordable housing, retail commercial, restaurants, the planned Riverwalk and industrial properties, this tour sells out on every occasion. Russian delegates witnessed firsthand the growth that has taken place in the areas adjacent to the Miami River.
RGR delegates stayed at the Trump International Hotel in Sunny Isles. Trump Grande Ocean Resort & Residences hosted a welcoming reception exclusively for RGR and RAMB members. They also attended a luncheon hosted by Parc Central East in Aventura.
RAMB began working with the Russian Guild of Realtors in 1995 as an Ambassador Association for what is now the International Real Property Foundation (IRPF) and later for the National Association of Realtors when RAMB helped develop their Ambassador program. RGR was one of RAMB’s first and most important international partner associations.
SECOVI-SP real estate association Leaders and members of SECOVI-SP in Sao Paulo, Brazil, arrived in Miami on Nov. 13. Led by RAMB’s José Augusto Pereira Nunes and SECOVI-SP President Romeu Chap Chap, the Brazilian trade mission started with a joint seminar with the Russians on Nov. 14. Puig Development hosted breakfast. Villa Magna then hosted an evening cocktail for the Brazilian delegation following a property tour in Boca Raton.
SECOVI-SP was RAMB’s first international partner association, with a signing ceremony and press conference in San Paolo in 1995.
Today, RAMB has more than 55 signed agreements with real estate associations around the world. These relationships continue to help attract buyers, investors and visitors to South Florida and further international referrals and business opportunities for agents.
FNAIM-Paris Ile de France is one of RAMB’s newest and most active partner associations. The organization’s delegation was in Miami in June for the Annual International Congress. RAMB will be sharing property listings in 13 languages with FNAIM-Paris in the near future.
International opportunities at NAR conference
At NAR’s recent annual conference in New Orleans, RAMB had a booth at the International Networking Center (INC) that was adjacent to SIMA’s International Showcase. RAMB also facilitated South Florida developer participation at the INC. Villa Magna, River Oaks, Fortune International, Cervera and Related Cervera all promoted their projects and South Florida.
RAMB also presented “Referral and Investment Opportunities in South Florida” during the Global Real Estate Theater, highlighting the reasons for purchasing property in our market.
These events at the conference wrapped up my year as the NAR president’s liaison.
Join us in Paris and Madrid in 2007
We invite you to join us at the RAMB/FNAIM Congress in Paris and SIMA in Madrid, and to exhibit with RAMB. For more information, email lynda@miamire.com.
Teresa King Kinney is CEO of the 13,000-member Realtor Association of Greater Miami and the Beaches (RAMB), which includes 12,000 members in their Residential Association and more than 1,000 members in their Realtors Commercial Alliance. The Association also hosts the largest local International Real Estate Council in the nation, with 1,400 members. RAMB recently celebrated its 85th year of service to the industry, the public and the community.