It’s great to have been in the airline business for almost 20 years!  There I learned a lot about the rest of the world and developed a comfort level with people from many different countries.  In the past few weeks, I had the opportunity to travel to Munich, Berlin and Dusseldorf, Germany and Istanbul, Turkey, where I met with professionals involved in transportation, tourism, and real estate. The overwhelming response that I received from everyone was the surprise at the values and great deals available in the Florida real estate market.

People from Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, and Germany were all very surprised at the luxurious homes that are available well below $2 million.  For example, take a look at one of our Previews International Exceptional Residences, located here in SW Florida. Exceptional Waterfront Estate Home  This incredible home with 100 feet of waterfront boasts 4 bedrooms and 5 baths and is minutes from open waters leading to the Gulf of Mexico. 

While in Turkey, I toured the areas of waterfront properties, some of which approach prices of $20 million.  Yet, the quality and luxurious finishes and amenties that are available here are not present in those homes.  And, in Germany, city apartments often approach the cost of a luxury home in SW Florida.

It’s no wonder we are the benefit of so much direct foreign investment in real estate and businesses here in Florida.  Of all international real estate investors, 31% purchased in Florida last year.  Foreign buyers look for quality properties that they can enjoy as second homes or as income producing properties.  Our recent meeting of the European American Network featured speakers including Norma Henning, honorary German counsel and local real estate and immigration attorney, addressing the impact of foreign investment and tourism to our area. Shared, too, were concerns about immigration restrictions prohibiting investors from enjoying their second homes.  Read the full article, “Existing laws already hold back tourists coming to spend millions of dollars here,” as written in the News-Press.

I do know this: our area receives terrific interest and a multitude of inquiries from around the world.  I am utilizing the tools that Coldwell Banker provides to insure that my clients’ properties are exposed  to buyers from around the world and this, in fact, is one of the great pleasures of my real estate career: interacting one-on-one with buyers and sellers here and abroad.