Serving expat clients, in both directions.

Expat clients are some of the most loyal clients an agent can have. They arrive needing far more than a house: a neighborhood, a school, a sense of where people from home have settled. When they move again, they call the agent who helped them the first time. An agent who serves expats well builds relationships that span several moves and several countries.

Two kinds of expat clients

Expats moving to Houston. Houston's energy, medical and corporate employers bring people in from around the world. Many arrive on a timeline set by their employer, sometimes before they have seen the city. They want to understand neighborhoods, commutes and schools, and many rent first and buy once they know the city.

Houstonians moving abroad. Overseas assignments, retirement and family ties take Houstonians to other countries. They need to sell, lease or have their home managed while they're away, and many want help finding a home where they're going.

Helping expats settle in Houston

The work goes beyond the transaction. Newcomers ask which neighborhoods families from home have chosen, where the international schools are, and which clubs, chambers of commerce and places of worship serve their community. They often need lenders who work with buyers who have little U.S. credit history, video tours and remote signings, and patience with a process that works differently from the one at home.

Agents who know Houston's international communities, or know the agents who do, become the first call. Our office's agents speak more than 40 languages, so a newcomer can often work with someone who speaks theirs.

Helping Houstonians buy abroad

A Texas license covers Texas transactions, so buying abroad works as a partnership. You keep the client relationship: understanding what they want, coordinating the sale of their Houston home and staying their trusted advisor. A Keller Williams agent in the destination handles the local showings, contracts and closing. You find that agent through the Referrals tool in KW Command, and the referral fee is paid between brokerages.

Agents who focus on one destination, and build trusted partners there, can become known as the Houston agent for that country. One client often brings two transactions: the Houston sale and the purchase abroad.

International listings on HAR.com

HAR's Global Information Exchange lets HAR MLS subscribers add international listings, which appear on HAR.com for consumers and in the MLS for every HAR agent. It is free for subscribers who sign the program agreement. With written authorization from a developer or owner abroad, and your broker's approval, you can put international property in front of Houston buyers where they already search.

HAR also shares listings with Omni MLS, which gives HAR agents access to listings in Mexico and other countries across Latin America.

Visas and residency programs

Visa questions come up often with expat clients. Our agents share what they know with each other, pass along what developers publish about residency programs like golden visas, and connect clients with immigration attorneys for the details.

Relocation companies and credentials

Employers often hire relocation and destination services companies to settle transferring employees. Those families still need an agent to buy or rent, and agents known for taking good care of transferees get the next one.

Two credentials signal that experience. The Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) designation, from the National Association of Realtors, is held by many members of our International Division. The Global Mobility Specialist (GMS-T) certification, from Worldwide ERC, is recognized across the corporate relocation industry.

Questions agents ask about expat clients

What does an expat real estate agent do?

An expat real estate agent helps people moving between countries. For families arriving in Houston, that means guiding them through neighborhoods, schools, renting or buying, and a process that may be new to them. For Houstonians moving abroad, it means selling or leasing their Houston home and connecting them with a trusted agent where they're going.

Can a Houston real estate agent sell homes overseas?

A Texas license covers Texas transactions, so a Houston agent works with a licensed agent in the other country. The Houston agent keeps the client relationship and earns a referral fee, paid between brokerages, while a Keller Williams agent abroad handles the local transaction. Texas rules allow a Texas broker to share earned commissions with a broker licensed in another country.

Can I list international properties on HAR?

Yes. HAR's Global Information Exchange lets HAR MLS subscribers add international listings, which appear on HAR.com and in the MLS. You need written authorization from the owner or developer and your broker's approval.

What credentials help with expat clients?

The Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) designation from the National Association of Realtors and the Global Mobility Specialist (GMS-T) certification from Worldwide ERC are both recognized. You can start serving expat clients without either one.

Do I need to speak a second language to work with expats?

No. English is the language of business in many countries, and many expats moving to Houston speak it well. A second language is an advantage when you serve a community that shares it.

Where to start

• Mention expat clients, and the languages you speak, on your HAR and Memorial profiles
• Learn the Referrals tool in KW Command and build partners in the countries your clients choose
• Get to know an immigration attorney and a cross-border tax advisor you can refer with confidence
• Sign up for HAR's Global Information Exchange if you plan to market property abroad
• Earn the CIPS designation, and consider the GMS-T if you work with corporate relocation
• Join our International Division and meet agents who already serve expat clients