Global was the buzzword at this year’s Annual Conference and Expo of the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) in Orlando, Florida.
Hundreds of REALTORS® came from around the world to participate and share experiences. For the first time, The People’s Republic of China sent a delegation. There were eighty Chinese registered for the event. Another large delegation came from Brazil. They had fifty members in Orlando. Mexico’s Delegation was led by the President of AMPI (the professional association for Mexico real estate) Sergio Gomez. Others in the Mexican group were Vice President Guillermo Salgado, AMPI Administrator, Barbara Gaxoet and the new Executive Vice President Elect, Martha Ramirez.   Also in the AMPI delegation was NAR’s Presidential Liaison to AMPI, Linda Jones Neil.
In addition to information sessions such as; Top Tools for Global Professionals, Prospects for the Global Economy and Implications for Real Estate Forum, Economic Issues and Residential Real Estate Trends and Hispanic 2.0 Reaching The Next Generation, there was a special class, Conducting Real Estate Business with China: Inbound and Outbound. The Moderator for the panel was Adrian Arriaga, NAR’s Presidential Liaison to China.
As in other years, there was also a large Trade Show with an International Networking Section where those from offshore could meet. Three popular social events took place.  These were a celebrity concert starring Glenn Frey and Joe Walsh, PLUS REALTORS®  Got Talent, REALTORS® Night out at Universal’s Islands of Adventure® and REALTORS® International Night out and Awards Ceremony. More on the latter, below.
The CIPS (Certified International Property Specialists) Breakfast as always is a pleasure to attend. Four hundred and fifty new Designees received their PINS and Certificates. The forty new Designees from the Philippines stole the show. Their Instructor had given them a project. It was to decide on a costume for the breakfast. Instead of traditional dress, they decided to dress like chefs. The cameras flashed as they passed though the receiving line of CIPS instructors.
Doing Business in China included a panel of professionals from China and the U.S. Adrian Arriaga was the moderator for this event. On the panel with Professor Junping Liao from the China Institute of Appraisers and Agents ( CIREA) were Vincent Mo, Chairman of Sou Fun the world’s largest MLS system. It is listed on the NYSEC, Fred Jahnke who has been operating as a catalyst between NAR and CIREA and a Florida. Realtor ® who explained the details of a transaction where Chinese investors purchased a marina in her state.
On Saturday morning, forty six Brokers from Brazil toured properties in Orlando. With them was the owner of the largest MLS system in their country. A spokesperson for the group said, “Brazilians have traditionally been buying in Miami. If prices are lower in Orlando, I am sure they will buy here.†(Editor’s note: We need them to take a look at Mexico real estate. There are many bargains, especilly in the tourist zones.)
REALTORS® International Night Out and Awards Ceremony
The Following is from NAR’s Global Web site…
(There were seven awards handed out. Two of them, described below pertain to Mexico.)
The International Night Out Dinner & Awards ceremony is the global real estate community’s chance to relax and kick up our heels after a long year’s work. About 650 attendees from more than 60 countries, gathered to reunite with colleagues, to develop new friendships, and to recognize those individuals and organizations that have worked so hard during the past year to keep our international real estate world turning. Special thanks and congratulations to this year’s award winners:
Outstanding Ambassador Association – Texas Association of REALTORS®
Each year, our foreign cooperating association partners are paired with a state or local REALTOR® association that has agreed to serve as an ambassador association. This year we honor the Texas Association of REALTORS® for quietly and modestly building a dynamic ambassador association relationship with AMPI Mexico, where between AMPI chapters and local Texas associations, over 75 agreements have been established that facilitate doing business and making connections from the grassroots level on both sides of the border. This year, Texas and AMPI have held two joint trade missions – in Cozumel and San Antonio – with over 100 REALTORS® participating.
International REALTOR® of the Year – John Glaab and Linda Neil of La Paz real estate, Mexico
This is a new award category for 2012. The award is designed to recognize and honor international members who embody REALTOR® spirit. Recipients of this award go above and beyond; they volunteer their time to the Association and help to build REALTOR® brand awareness. They are educating and promoting REALTOR® professionalism to both agents and consumers, while also providing an example for all REALTORS® to follow.
John Glaab and Linda Neil are long-standing International REALTOR® members, and are true stewards of our Association. John, a CIPS designee and published real estate writer, utilizes public relations and social media to grow the REALTOR® name and brand. Linda Neil, the current NAR President’s Liaison to Mexico, has just been added to the cadre of CIPS instructors. Together, this dynamic duo successfully serves as global ambassadors for our Association.
Gary Thomson of Orange County, California is the new NAR President. Steve Brown of Dayton Ohio is President Elect for 2013
Next year’s Conference and Expo will be held in San Francisco, November 9-14.
John Glaab is a founding member of Los Cabos Chapter of AMPI (the Mexican Association of Real Estate Professionals). A Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) he is active in the National Association of Realtors® Global Business Alliances Group. John was recently appointed as a member of AMPI’s International Relations Committee. To contact John, call (512) 879-6546.
The TOP Mexico Real Estate Network; “Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely!â€
Se llevó a cabo la conferencia anual de la Asociación Nacional de Agentes Inmobiliarios (National Association of Realtors, NAR) en los Estados Unidos (en Orlando Florida para ser más precisos), en ella cientos de agentes inmobiliarios de todas partes del mundo compartieron sus experiencias. Por primera vez en la historia del evento, la conferencia estuvo engalanada con la presencia de la República Popular de China, su delegación estuvo integrada por 80 agentes inmobiliarios chinos que compartieron las experiencias de trabajar en los bienes raÃces de su paÃs. Además de las extensas delegaciones de Brasil y México.
La delegación mexicana estuvo dirigida por el presidente de la Asociación Mexicana de Profesionales Inmobiliarios (AMPI) Sergio Gómez, el vicepresidente del AMPI Guillermo Salgado, asà como la administradora general Bárbara Gaxoet y la nueva vicepresidenta electa Martha RamÃrez. Todos ellos acompañados por Linda Jones Neil integrante del NAR y el enlace oficial con los miembros del AMPI en México (ver bienes raÃces en México).
- John Glaab (izquierda) y Linda Neil (centro) en el evento.
Las conferencias tocaron diversos temas, entre ellos: Herramientas para el profesional global, EconomÃa Global y sus implicaciones en los bienes raÃces, Nuevas tendencias y Asuntos Económicos, y algunos otros tópicos. Además de una clase magistral sobre el ejercicio del trabajo en los Bienes raÃces en China.
El evento estuvo acompañado, además, por diversas cenas gala, conciertos, asà como recorridos a diversas propiedades élite en la zona de Orlando, Florida. Eventos como este ayudan a estrechar los lazos entre profesionales del sector en todas partes del mundo.
El evento también contó con una ceremonia para premiaciones y reconocimientos, este año el consejo nombró a John Glaab y Linda Neil (ambos emprendedores de los bienes raÃces en la Paz, Baja California) como Agentes Internacionales del Año, reconocimiento otorgado por su amplia experiencia en el sector asà como su intensa participación en la profesionalización el ramo.
TopMéxicoRealEstate.com, la empresa lÃder en bienes raÃces en México.Â