What makes the difference between international real estate and real estate in North America? Here are the four reasons.

1. New York dominates the ranking of the most attractive cities.

New York strengthens its position as the world's leading property investment city, with annual growth of + 20% year-on-year, ranking # 1 in Cushman & Wakefield's "Winning in Growth Cities" investment index the 8th consecutive year. It retains its second place in the ranking of the most favorable ecosystems for startups. The salaries of developers are high, its natural attractiveness, its financial location and its location make it a popular location, including European companies. The market is dynamic. Demand remains strong for goods under $ 5 million. Many new luxury programs are emerging and the arrival of Amazon's head office is revitalizing Long Island City.

2. Canada's good economic health.

Canada, one of the most prosperous countries in the world In terms of GDP per capita, Canada is the 20th richest country in the world, slightly ahead of France. In terms of the HDI (Human Development Index), the country ranks 12th in the world (France is 24th). Newcomers make up 21% of all property buyers in Canada, according to a Royal LePage study. At the national level, Quebec is just behind Ontario when it comes to attracting newcomers who want to come to live and work (19%). Currently, newcomers to Quebec also account for 19% of all property buyers in the province. According to forecasts, they will be responsible for the purchase of 102,000 properties in the province over the next five years.

3. Contracts.

Open sales contracts limit the possibilities of the seller because of the costs associated with non-dedicated representation and misperceptions of buyers. Unlike North American markets where exclusive registration agreements are largely the norm, in most markets outside of North America, open registration agreements are commonplace. In Europe, for example, it is common for homeowners to ask several real estate agents to sell their property. In this case, when a property is sold, the commission is only paid to the partner who brought the buyer. From the perspective of the owner, more associates equate to more potential buyers and competition among associates adds a sense of urgency, favoring a quick sell. Overall, with an exclusive list - a single broker list - associates are much more motivated and personally invest in finding the right buyer and the right price for the seller he / she represents. In the end, it's the customers who win: the buyers find the best accommodation for their family among all the possible stocks correctly represented by an agent, and the sellers get the maximum price of their house faster by exposing it to the most large number of buyers of other agents.

4. Lack of regulation and applicable law.

An unregulated industry leaves all parties vulnerable and lacks trust. In North America, real estate professionals are subject to rules governed by boards of directors and associations that issue licenses and enforce laws and regulations. These laws protect agents and consumers and offer everyone involved in a transaction a sense of security and trust. There is no equivalent at the same level outside of North America. In many markets, no qualification or license is required to sell real estate, and there are no binding regulations governing transactions; almost everyone can sell a property and sometimes everything is allowed. With respect to laws that exist outside of North America, their type and enforceability varies considerably, and they apply only in a small geographic area and almost never at the national level. The lack of regulation has its consequences. For example, this reduces the willingness of associates to split their commission in a transaction and when disputes arise (for example, a partner claiming that another partner did not pay his share), they often have to resort to Small claims court, which can be expensive and take a long time to resolve. A lack of regulation may also lead associates to find creative ways to sell properties to avoid paying a split commission to their broker. Together, these problems pose problems at all levels of real estate, ranging from inaccurate data and financial reporting to a lack of clarity about the rights of all concerned.