by Michael Bauknecht

When the market continued to shift 2007-2008, I decided to identify other opportunities instead of trying to compete for listings. My mental diet was changing and I started focusing on the intersection between real estate and international affairs in emerging markets and transition economies. Every day my goal is to do my very best and grow as much as possible and I know from experience that if you continue to seek knowledge that energy grows where attention goes.

I am going to create a digest through this blog putting together thoughts, news, experiences related to international real estate and of course some stories – it actually is a jungle out there.

I would like to shout out my appreciation to Chicago Agent magazine, not only for this venue but also for helping us market “A Taste of Costa Rica…Taking The Mystery out of Purchasing Property in Costa Rica version 1.0.”

My actual first blog post was August 19, 2009, when I first discovered their blog. Everything I was hearing and reading about social media and its importance was true and continues to grow!  If you need help with social media goals, Rich Rogala would be the go-to guy.

Just like social media, the changes and opportunities and most importantly the resources in international real estate continue to grow.

Because of timing, my topic is a brief introduction to FIABCI and Midwest Real Estate Data’s Area 1000, which by the way the Chicago chapter of FIABCI is hosting “Jump Start Your Global Real Estate Business” Networking Event at Marcello’s Restaurant 645 W. North Ave. Chicago, IL 60610 with a presentation on entering listings into the MRED system and beyond on Thursday October 14, 2010 4:00-7:00.

I was recently appointed to the Board of the FIABCI Chicago Chapter.  One of the main goals of this organization is working globally to create transparencies in Real Estate transactions. FIABCI, the umbrella organization for the real estate industry around the globe, is the French acronym for the International Real Estate Federation, a worldwide federation of professional associations founded in Paris in 1949.  FIABCI enables real estate professionals to share their knowledge and experience with each other and with the international community in order to provide society with the optimal solution to its property needs. FIABCI is the only international organization with Special Consultative Status Category II with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

AREA 1000
Most Brokers are not even aware that Area 1000 exists.  The new area allows local brokers to enter listings outside of the country.  Just like everything else, when it is new it most likely needs refining.  Albert Einstein’s quote “You cannot solve a problem from the same consciousness that created it. You must learn to see the world anew”
The networking event October 14, 2011 at Marcellos will kick off with a presentation on the experiences of what it takes to get a global listing fully entrenched into the system.

Maria Davies and I have been working together with MRED, REALTOR.COM, COLDWELLBANKER.COM, COLDWELLBANKERONLINE.COM, PROXIO, WORLDPROPERTIES.COM and CASTLES and ESTATES, changing the parameters so the listings show up with the proper information and maps in the web portals.
The first round we found it took 14 days to finally have the listings be represented in the countries where they exist.  Finally finding the right IT representatives and changing the input fields have allowed listings in Costa Rica, Mexico and Portugal to actually have maps in those countries and not come up as Costa Rica Illinois or having the property show up on a map of Downers Grove.