John D Wood & Co is launching an international department, promising properties ranging from urban pieds-à-terre to Caribbean beach houses, from penthouses in Florida to Tuscan farmhouses, and from properties on golf estates to ski chalets in the Alps.
The high-end Countrywide-owned brand - previously known only as a London and Country estate agent - says the diversification will focus on helping UK based residents buy international properties, with an emphasis on Europe, the Caribbean and America.
It says with the strengthening of sterling, favourable mortgage rates, increasingly flexible work technology, easy access to locations by air and Eurostar, the time is right for the expansion.
“Many of our sellers tell us they aim to live abroad for part of the year and downsize from their main property in the UK, keeping a base here to maintain a foothold in the UK, usually close to family or for easy flexi-commuting” says Nicholas Taylor, operations director of John D Wood & Co.
The agency says that data from Rightmove Overseas shows that the most popular destinations for Britons purchasing abroad are Spain, France, Italy, the United States and Portugal, with those interviewed citing their motivations as wanting to enjoy a better quality of life, to live in a warmer climate with easy access to a beach and to experience a new culture, as well as to live amongst beautiful scenery.
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At INEA we import many daily feeds for overseas agents who are willing to sub and split fees.
Biggest problem for most agents taking various overseas listings is handling mass data sets. MLS multi listing makes this very easy and manageable
Yep, expansion overseas can be a very good thing, but it can also mean a lot of extra work/need for extra staff/knowledge of a whole different market. It's certainly not without risk but good luck to John D Wood & Co.
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