#1: Meet With…

• As many real estate agents as possible. Certainly you want to meet with more than one. Remember that most of the world’s property markets operate without the benefit of a Multiple Listing Service. To get any real idea what’s available that might suit you (for rent or for sale), you need to meet with more than one agent.

When we arrived in Waterford, Ireland, years ago, luggage and then 8-year-old daughter in tow, I had a very clear picture of what I wanted our new Irish home to look like. I wanted a big, old, Georgian-style house with land around it for chickens and a garden, plus stables where Kaitlin could keep a pony. We checked into the Granville Hotel in the center of town, where we intended to stay while we carried out our property search, and went around the corner to visit the estate agents at O’Shea O’Toole. There, I described for Mr. O’Shea what we were in the market to buy.

He responded to tell me about two houses that fit my description. Neither interested me, so I asked what else was available. Nothing, he told me. That was it. These were the only two properties available in all of County Waterford that might suit us.

How could that be, we wondered? Finally, it occurred to us to try another agent. We got in touch with estate agent John Rohan, who, likewise, told us of two houses available that might suit us, but, we discovered, these were not the same two houses as those Mr. O’Shea had shown us. Mr. Palmer, down the street, showed us three houses, none the same as those we’d seen with Mr. O’Shea or Mr. Rohan. Then Desmond Purcell told us about three old Georgian-style houses for sale, one of which was the same as one of the houses that Mr. O’Shea had shown us weeks before—but, in Mr. Purcell’s listing book, the price tag was 10,000 pounds greater.

This is what it’s like to shop in a market without an MLS….and it’s the reason you’ve got to speak with as many real estate agents as possible. This is true not only when you’re in the market to buy a piece of real estate, but also (as I strongly recommend you do at first) when you’re shopping for a place to rent.

You’re not going to commit to a rental (or, certainly, a property purchase) during this initial scouting visit. Rather, use it as an opportunity to begin to get the lay of the land. What’s available for rent and for sale where at what price? You want as much input from as many different sources as possible.

• At least one attorney experienced working with non-locals. You’ll need an attorney’s help if and when you eventually decide to invest in purchasing a home of your own. I also recommend that you use an attorney to help you with your residency visa application process (if you intend to relocate full-time and, therefore, need a residency visa). Use this initial scouting trip as an opportunity to interview one or two attorneys you might eventually want to rely on for counsel.

• As many expats already settled in the place you’re considering as you can find. Again, this visit is about reconnaissance. You want to speak with as many different people and to listen to as many different real-life stories and points of view as possible. What do the expats already living in the place like about their new lives? What frustrates them? Are they happy with their choice? Why… or why not?

• At least one banker. Even if you’re not ready to begin the process of applying to open the local operating bank account that you’ll need in your new home, take time during your scouting expedition to visit at least one bank and to speak with at least one banker. Ask for complete details on what would be required from you to open an account with that institution. Some banks will have a formal list or even an information package for foreign account applicants. Take this away with you for future reference.