Country Article / Postcards
SORRY, NO SUCH PROPERTY EXISTS
Date: 07/06/2003Dear International Living Reader,
Perhaps you've read the special report we produced a couple of years ago called "Confessions of an Expatriate--17 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me Before I Moved Overseas." (If you haven't read it, you can now here.)
Of course...there are more than 17 things worth knowing before you follow your dream to a foreign locale. This week, therefore, we'd like to detail a few others. In the days to follow, you'll hear from some of our far-flung correspondents, transplanted Americans all, with their own cautions, insights, and words of wisdom for others considering following in their footsteps.
I'll start off, with a practical insight:
The multiple listing service is a U.S. phenomenon. Don't expect to encounter it in the foreign market where you're thinking about buying real estate.
There are exceptions. Canada also uses an MLS...and New Zealand has one, but its agents don't use it. There's a local MLS in Ajijic, Mexico...as well as Buenos Aires, Argentina. But, generally speaking, outside the States, if you want to find out what's for sale in a particular area...you have to visit every agent operating in that area. Each keeps proprietary, sometimes exclusive listings and will show you only what he has on his books.
Furthermore, the same property may be listed with more than one agent...but at different prices.
We knew this in Latin America and the Caribbean...but were surprised to find it true also in Ireland when we moved here 4 1/2 years ago. We expected to be able to visit an agent...ask for a full listing of period properties on 6 acres or more within commuting distance of Waterford City...and be presented in return with a detailed print-out.
Forget it. The first agent we visited told us no such property existed. What he meant to say was that he didn't have any such property among his agency's listings.
We were confused...but determined. So we tried someone else. This fellow was more forthcoming. He showed us two houses...then added, "That's all I have to show you." And we began to understand.
We worked our way through every agent in town. It took months.
Kathleen Peddicord
Publisher, International Living
P.S. The process can be more efficient today...thanks to the Internet. Colleagues from the States recently moved to Waterford. They were able to do much of their agency-to-agency searching online (see below).
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