Since 2007, the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) has conducted a yearly survey to measure the sales of U.S. residential real estate to international clients. The survey provides information about the origin, destination, and buying preferences of international clients as well as the challenges and opportunities faced by REALTORS® in the international market.

Below are some of the key findings of the 2014 Profile of International Home Buying Activity.

Record Sales Volume

For the period of April 2013 – March 2014, the total sales to international clients has been estimated at approximately $92.2 billion — a 35% increase from the previous year!

The Top International Sales From 5 Countries

International buyers of U.S. properties came from nearly all over the globe, but Canada, China, Mexico, India, and the United Kingdom accounted for 54 percent of the reported transactions in the recent study.

China is Leading in Sales Volume

China was the fasting growing source of transactions, now accounting for 16% of all purchases, up twelve percent from last year. Chinese buyers tended to buy properties in higher-priced markets such as California, Washington, and New York. As a result, total international sales from Chinese buyers rose to $22 billion, up from $ 12.8 billion last year. This accounts for about 24 percent of the total international dollar sales!

Reaching Chinese buyers can be challenging though. With language barriers and strict Internet regulations it can be hard to market US properties to the Chinese. ListHub has a solution – ListHub Global. ListHub Global includes a network of over 70 international property websites in over 40 countries around the world, including the number one website in China, SouFun. SouFun is the most searched property portal in China with over 3 million unique users per day.

Want to learn more about the global opportunity?

Join us this month for one of our upcoming online webinars,— Global Perspectives – Tips for Expanding Your Global Reach

This FREE 30 min course will cover:

• The Opportunity and Challenges of International Marketing
• About ListHub Global Network
• International Marketing Metrics
• NAR’s CIPS Designation and Global Education and Discounts

Webinars will be held on July 17 and July 24. Click Here to sign up today, space and webinars are limited!

Presented by:

Aldana Gentinetta
ListHub Global Marketing Specialist

Katie Stouffs Grimes 
National Association of REALTORS, Director of Global Marketing & Business Development

To view the entire 2014 Profile of International Home Buying Activity report click here.