* by Michele Newbern Gillis
Staff Writer
The Northeast Florida Association of REALTORS® has started an International Council to bring together the international real estate community, provide networking opportunities, education and fun for members who hold the Certified International Property Specialist designation, speak languages other than English or deal with international real estate.
Kim Davis of Ponte Vedra Beach Realty is the chairperson and says this is not the first time the group has been organized in Jacksonville.
“We used to have one through the Jacksonville Association of REALTORS® and for whatever reason, it was stopped,” said Davis. “So, when I completed my CIPS courses earlier this year, I approached Glenn East (NEFAR executive vice president) about getting another council up and running.”
The group held its first meeting last month and will continue to meet on the 4th Monday of every month from 11 a.m.-noon at the NEFAR main office on the Southside.
“There is a tremendous influx of international clients in the Jacksonville area,” said Davis. “The agents I have talked to and who are going to be a part of it have been doing international business for years and are glad we are coming together.”
Currently, they have about 15 members and Davis says they intend to grow each month.
“We need to have a presence in the international council, we are very much a global market right now,” she said.
The council will evolve just as most councils do to include speakers, bylaws and regulations.
“We are just laying the groundwork right now,” said Davis.
Having the CIPS designation is not a requirement to join, but Davis said they will be encouraging members to get it.
“There are a lot of people including loan officers, financial planners and real estate agents who do international business who may want to become part of the council,” she said.
Future plans for the council include evolving the meetings into a brown bag lunch meeting, a website linked to NEFAR’s website, fundraising, and possibly a sister city situation where the council would go on an international trip and meet other international council members.
“Jacksonville is a very diverse community and that is the key to making this council successful and encouraging people to become involved in it,” said Davis.