Seven ways to build an international career.

When people hear "international real estate," they often picture selling homes overseas. That is one path, and for most Houston agents it is not the biggest. The larger opportunities usually start here: clients arriving from abroad, clients leaving for overseas assignments, and referrals moving in both directions through the Keller Williams network. Most international agents combine several of the paths below.

1. Serving Houston's international communities in their language

   Houston is one of the most diverse cities in the country. Many of the most international transactions happen entirely within Houston, for families who would rather work in their own language and with an agent who understands where they come from.

   A good fit for bilingual agents at any stage, including newer agents building their first book of business. Shared language makes it natural to build referral relationships with agents who serve the same community elsewhere.

2. Helping international buyers and investors purchase in Houston

   Buyers from abroad purchase Houston homes and investment property, often before they ever visit. The work includes video tours, remote signings, coordinating with lenders who serve foreign nationals, and pointing clients to tax and legal professionals for questions about owning U.S. property.

   A good fit for agents who speak a second language, hold the CIPS designation or are comfortable working across time zones.

3. Relocation into and out of Houston

   Houston's energy, medical and corporate employers move people in from around the world, and send Houstonians overseas. Arriving families need a home and a neighborhood. Departing families need to sell, lease or have their home managed while they are away.

   Newcomers often ask where others from home have settled: which neighborhoods, international schools, places of worship, clubs and chambers of commerce. An agent who knows those communities, or knows the agents who do, helps a family find their place in Houston's thriving multicultural community, not just a house.

   Our guide to serving expat clients covers this path in depth, from settling newcomers to helping Houstonians buy abroad.

   A good fit for agents who know Houston's neighborhoods and schools and want long client relationships that span several moves.

4. Referring clients to KW agents abroad

   When a Houston client buys or sells in another country, you can refer them to a Keller Williams agent there. KW Worldwide operates in more than 60 regions outside the U.S. and Canada, and the Referrals tool in KW Command helps you find the right agent. You keep the relationship, and the referral fee is paid between brokerages.

   A good fit for any agent with a client base. It needs no second language and no travel.

5. Receiving referrals from KW agents across the country and abroad

   The same network works in reverse. Agents overseas refer clients who are moving to Houston or investing here, and so do KW agents across the U.S. whose clients speak your language or come from your home country. KW events like Family Reunion and Mega Camp put you in the same room with agents from all over the country and the world, and those relationships become referrals. Some agents build their entire referral network this way, by connecting with agents who serve their own language community in other cities and countries.

   Being easy to find matters too: a public roster that lists your languages and designations, and a reputation for taking good care of referred clients.

   A good fit for agents who enjoy building relationships with other agents and want referral business that grows over time.

6. Marketing property abroad to Houston buyers

   Some agents market homes outside the U.S. to buyers here, such as second homes or resort communities. Developers sometimes invite international agents to visit their communities so they can see the property firsthand and represent it to buyers back home. Ownership rules differ by country. In parts of Mexico, for example, foreign buyers near the coast hold property through a bank trust. This path usually means partnering with a developer or a local agent and working closely with your broker on what is allowed.

   A good fit for agents with ties to a specific destination and buyers who already vacation there.

7. International investment and commercial property

   Investors from abroad buy rental homes, land and commercial property in the Houston area. Larger commercial assets bring in the specialists at KW Commercial Texas, who work with international investors in Houston commercial real estate, so a residential agent can stay involved with a client who is investing at a larger scale.

   A good fit for agents who work with investors and want to grow into larger transactions.

A ready-built system to plug into

You don't have to build an international network from scratch. Keller Williams already has agents in more than 60 regions outside the U.S. and Canada, the Referrals tool in KW Command to connect with them, events where agents meet in person, and, at Memorial, an International Division with its own roster and chair. Plugging into that system gives you a new way to build your business through referrals, in both directions.

Speaking a second language gives you an edge, because it makes it natural to connect with clients and agents in that community. And our International Division is within reach for every Memorial agent with an interest in international real estate: an exciting global opportunity that multiplies your network from day one.

How the paths fit together

Few agents choose just one. A relocation client may become an investor, an investor may refer a friend abroad, and a referral partner overseas may send the next family moving to Houston. A Houston international practice grows through the clients it serves and the relationships it builds, wherever the homes are.

A note on referral fees

Texas rules allow a Texas broker to share earned commissions with a broker licensed in another country (TREC Rule 535.131). Referral fees are paid between brokerages, not directly to agents, so your broker handles the paperwork.

Questions agents ask about international real estate

What is international real estate?

International real estate covers any transaction or client relationship that crosses a border: buyers and investors from abroad purchasing in Houston, families relocating into or out of the area, referrals to and from agents in other countries, and Houston buyers purchasing property abroad. Many international transactions close entirely in Houston.

Do I need to speak a second language to work in international real estate?

No. English is the language of business in many international destinations, so you can work with international clients and refer them to KW agents abroad in English. If you already speak another language, it's a real advantage, because it makes it natural to connect with clients and agents in that community.

Do I need the CIPS designation?

You can start without one. The Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) designation is a strong credential and a natural next step for members of our International Division who want to grow an international practice.

How do international real estate referrals work?

When a client buys or sells in another country, you refer them to a Keller Williams agent there, often found through the Referrals tool in KW Command. Agents abroad, and agents across the U.S., refer clients moving to Houston the same way. Referral fees are paid between brokerages, and Texas rules allow a Texas broker to share earned commissions with a broker licensed in another country.

How do I join the International Division at Keller Williams Memorial?

Our International Division is within reach for every Memorial agent with an interest in international real estate, and a designation or second language adds to your edge as you grow. Learn about the International Division or talk with the division's chair, Patricia Uebe.

Where to start

• If you speak a second language, let clients and other agents know
• Earn the Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) designation
• List your languages and designations on your Memorial profile so clients can find you on our international roster
• Learn the Referrals tool in KW Command
• Meet agents at KW events like Family Reunion and Mega Camp, and tell them which languages and communities you serve
• Talk with the International Division's chair, Patricia Uebe, about which paths fit your practice