Why Global Exposure Matters for Property Listings

05/22/2025

Industry Insights Tech Cre

In today’s interconnected market, real estate is a global asset class. High-net-worth individuals and institutional investors scour the world for opportunities, from luxury residences to trophy commercial assets. As a seller or broker, limiting your marketing to local channels means overlooking a vast pool of international capital. In 2024, for example, foreign buyers spent about $42 billion on U.S. homes (with roughly half paying cash), demonstrating the immense purchasing power of overseas investors.[1] In commercial real estate (CRE), cross-border investment is equally significant – global CRE transaction volumes rebounded to over $800 billion last year, with around 20% of that coming from international buyers.[2] The message is clear: attracting an international audience can dramatically increase demand for your property and potentially boost your sale price.

Global reach isn’t just a nice-to-have for premium properties – it’s increasingly an expectation. Wealthy investors from Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas are actively seeking diversification and stable assets abroad. Major financial centers like London, New York, Dubai, and Singapore have become melting pots of investor capital. Even beyond these hubs, savvy buyers monitor overseas markets for high-yield deals or lifestyle purchases. If your listing platform doesn’t give you international visibility, you risk missing out on this dynamic audience. Choosing the right platform to market properties internationally is therefore a pivotal decision for any seller of high-end residential or commercial real estate.

How do I attract international buyers for my property?

Attracting foreign buyers requires more than just passive advertising – it demands a globally minded strategy. First and foremost, you need to list your property on a platform that international investors actually use. This means leveraging a marketplace with worldwide presence and a user base of active global buyers. Simply translating your listing into a few languages or sharing it on social media is not enough if it isn’t reaching the right audience.

The most effective way to get in front of overseas investors is to use an international real estate listing platform that already aggregates those buyers. By marketing your property on a global platform (rather than a local MLS or a domestic-only site), you instantly expand your exposure to qualified prospects around the world. For example, a well-chosen platform will showcase your listing to buyers in dozens of countries simultaneously, instead of you having to manually post on multiple foreign portals. It should also provide features like built-in currency conversion (so prices are easily understood in different currencies) and time-zone friendly communication tools, making it easy to connect with interested parties abroad. In short, to attract international buyers, choose a platform that is built for international reach – one that caters to global investors and optimizes your listing for worldwide appeal.

Beyond platform choice, ensure your listing itself is geared toward an international audience. This means offering a compelling, detailed description (in English and possibly other key languages), high-quality photos and virtual tours, and including information international buyers care about (like proximity to airports, visa or ownership regulations, and local market trends). A strong platform will guide you in many of these aspects – for instance, Brevitas allows sellers to include comprehensive deal details, financials, and even upload due diligence documents to inform serious investors. By combining an international platform with an informative, well-presented listing, you maximize your chances of attracting motivated foreign buyers.

Where should I list my property internationally?

You might be wondering whether you need to advertise on dozens of country-specific property sites to reach international prospects. Traditionally, an agent would post listings on various regional portals – one for Europe, another for Asia, and so on – or rely on networks of local brokers. This scattershot approach is time-consuming and often inconsistent. A smarter solution is to leverage a single unified platform that has global reach. Rather than juggling multiple listings across different websites (each with different languages or formats), you can save time by using a centralized international marketplace.

An ideal platform for listing properties internationally is one that connects to a worldwide network of investors and brokers in one place. Brevitas exemplifies this approach. It’s essentially a global online marketplace where a buyer in London can discover a retail center in Los Angeles, or an investor in Dubai can review a hotel opportunity in Spain – all on the same website. By listing on Brevitas, your property is showcased to tens of thousands of active users across 60+ countries, without you having to do the legwork of posting it repeatedly elsewhere. The platform’s user base includes international commercial brokers, investment funds, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals actively looking for deals. In short, if you choose a platform like Brevitas, you are effectively listing everywhere at once because the platform itself syndicates your opportunity to a global audience of qualified buyers.

It’s also worth noting that Brevitas offers free listing syndication with certain partners and even allows MLS integration. For example, brokers can sync their listings from their local MLS into Brevitas to instantly gain international exposure. This kind of integration means you don’t have to manually re-enter data or manage multiple listings – one upload to Brevitas can populate many channels. When choosing where to list internationally, prioritize platforms that simplify your workflow while maximizing reach. Brevitas’s one-stop global platform approach is designed for exactly that, ensuring your property is visible worldwide through a single listing.

Key Criteria for Choosing an International Listing Platform

Not all real estate platforms are created equal – especially when it comes to marketing properties to an international or commercial buyer base. When evaluating where to list your property, consider the following critical criteria:

Global Investor Network: Does the platform have a strong presence of international buyers and brokers? A good platform should function as a global marketplace, not just a local classifieds site. Brevitas, for instance, has members from over 60 countries, ensuring your listing gets worldwide eyes on it.
Commercial & Investment Focus: If you’re marketing a commercial property (or a luxury investment property), you’ll want a platform tailored to that sector. The needs of CRE and high-end investments differ from standard residential homes. Brevitas is specifically built for commercial real estate and investment properties – meaning the audience is looking for deals like yours, and the listing fields (financial metrics, cap rates, NOI, etc.) support detailed investment info.
Ease of Use and Listing Tools: A user-friendly interface and robust tools are essential. Look for features like easy upload of photos and documents, the ability to create an attractive listing page, and analytics on views or inquiries. Brevitas offers a modern, intuitive dashboard where you can manage your listing, respond to messages, and track engagement. It also supports rich media (videos, virtual tours) to present your property in the best light.
Language and Currency Support: One often overlooked factor is how the platform handles different languages and currencies. International buyers will appreciate seeing prices in their local currency or being able to read content in their language. Brevitas addresses this by providing a built-in currency converter on every listing and is rolling out multilingual support so that investors can navigate and read listings comfortably in Spanish, Chinese, and other major languages. This removes friction for foreign buyers and makes your listing more accessible globally.
Marketing & Syndication: Consider how the platform markets listings. Does it simply sit on a website, or does it actively promote to a database of investors? Brevitas not only lists properties on its site; it also has digital marketing tools integrated. Sellers can send email blasts to targeted investor lists, share listings with one click to social media or export to other portals through Brevitas’s network. Essentially, the platform should amplify your reach through multiple channels, not just its own site.
Verified Buyers and Security: When dealing with high-value properties or sensitive information, you want to ensure that inquiries are from serious, qualified parties. Brevitas is a members-based platform – investors and brokers create profiles – which adds a layer of transparency. It also offers controls like private listings (where you can hide certain details until a buyer signs a confidentiality agreement) and secure deal rooms for document sharing. This way, you can confidently expose your deal to a broad audience without sacrificing confidentiality during negotiations.
No Geographic Restrictions: A true international platform shouldn’t be confined to one region. Some listing services are essentially regional (even if they allow overseas users, their inventory is mostly one country). Brevitas distinguishes itself by having listings in North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and more, all in one place. When you choose such a platform, you ensure that no matter where a potential buyer is based – be it a tech entrepreneur in Silicon Valley or a family office in Hong Kong – they can find and engage with your property.

By weighing these criteria, you can identify the platform that will give your property the best exposure and the smoothest transaction experience. In all these aspects, Brevitas excels as a sophisticated, globally-oriented marketplace for both commercial and luxury real estate.

Do I need a specialized platform for commercial real estate listings?

Commercial real estate deals differ markedly from typical home sales, so it makes sense to use a specialized platform when marketing CRE properties. General real estate websites often cater to the residential consumer – they emphasize curb appeal photos, school districts, and open house dates. In contrast, commercial listings require a focus on financials, leases, tenant information, zoning, and investment returns. A platform purpose-built for CRE will provide the right framework to present this information and will attract the type of buyer who understands it.

Using a specialized CRE platform like Brevitas offers several advantages. Firstly, the audience on a CRE platform consists of investors, developers, and commercial brokers, not casual home shoppers. This means inquiries you receive are more likely to be serious and qualified – for example, a private equity fund looking for a multi-family portfolio, or a 1031 exchange buyer seeking an income property. Secondly, a specialized platform supports larger deal sizes and complex transactions. Brevitas listings routinely include multi-million-dollar commercial assets and even portfolio sales; the platform is equipped to handle those, with tools such as secure data rooms for sharing rent rolls and financial statements. By comparison, a generic real estate site might not even have fields to upload a pro forma or indicate an NOI (Net Operating Income).

Moreover, a CRE-focused marketplace often facilitates connections and networking beyond just the listing. Brevitas, for example, lets users broadcast “Wants” and acquisition criteria – meaning investors can announce what they’re looking to buy. As a seller, you could find a match by seeing these buyer preferences and directly reaching out. This kind of broker-investor interaction is unique to specialized platforms. In summary, while you could list a commercial property on any popular site, a specialized platform will dramatically improve your reach to the right buyers and provide the professional tools needed to successfully market and close your CRE deal.

How can I ensure my listing reaches high-net-worth international investors?

Reaching high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) and ultra-high-net-worth investors on a global scale is all about tapping into the networks and platforms they use. Many HNW investors rely on curated marketplaces, private networks, or their brokers to find opportunities rather than browsing generic listing sites. To ensure your property gets in front of these elite buyers, you should list on a platform known for high-end and off-market deals. Brevitas has gained a reputation as a hub for premium listings – including luxury hotels, development projects, and investment-grade properties – which naturally attracts HNWIs and family offices who are constantly on the lookout for exclusive opportunities.

In addition to listing on the right platform, consider using the platform’s marketing features to specifically target these investors. On Brevitas, for example, you can leverage the email blast tool to send your offering to a curated list of investors who have indicated interest in similar assets or locations. Because Brevitas profiles allow investors to specify their preferences and purchase criteria, the platform can help match your listing with those most likely to pursue it. This is a powerful way to ensure that your property isn’t just visible globally, but is proactively presented to the right segment of investors.

High-net-worth buyers also value professionalism and discretion. To appeal to them, make sure your listing is complete with all pertinent details (so they can evaluate it efficiently) and use the privacy tools available. Brevitas allows you to mark a listing as “private” or confidential, meaning details are only shown to logged-in, pre-approved buyers. This creates a sense of exclusivity and security that HNW investors appreciate. By using such features, you signal that you understand their need for privacy. In combination, a platform known for quality deals and the careful presentation of your listing will maximize your chances of engaging HNW international investors.

Is it better to list a property publicly or off-market?

When marketing a high-value property (be it a luxury estate or a prime commercial asset), sellers often grapple with whether to go for broad public exposure or to keep the sale more discreet. Public listings on large portals will cast the widest net, but they also make the details of the sale visible to everyone – which may not be ideal for exclusive assets. Off-market listings, on the other hand, restrict information to a select group of buyers. The right choice depends on your goals, but an ideal platform should actually let you do both – gain global reach while still maintaining control over who sees sensitive details.

One of the strengths of Brevitas is the ability to accommodate off-market strategies. Sellers can list a property as “unlisted” or private, meaning it won’t appear in public search results, but can still be shared privately with vetted buyers on the platform. You might choose this route if you value discretion (for example, a high-profile seller who doesn’t want press or tenants to know a property is for sale, or an investor who will only sell at a certain price and isn’t actively advertising). On Brevitas, you could quietly market this asset by directly sending the listing link to select investors or by allowing interested parties to request information under a non-disclosure agreement. This approach captures the benefits of off-market (privacy and exclusivity) while leveraging the platform’s global network to find suitable buyers behind the scenes.

Alternatively, if maximizing exposure is your priority and there are no confidentiality concerns, a public listing on Brevitas can generate a large volume of inquiries from around the world. Because Brevitas has both options, many sellers start with a private (off-market) marketing phase and then switch to public if they want to reach more buyers. This graduated approach can create urgency and a sense of rarity when initially offered off-market (“exclusive offer to Brevitas members”), and later tap the full breadth of the market if needed. Ultimately, the best platforms give you the flexibility to choose your marketing approach. With Brevitas, you can be as discreet or as visible as you deem appropriate, all while knowing the platform is working to bring you qualified investors either way.

The Brevitas Advantage: A One-Stop Global Marketplace

As a real estate executive, I’ve observed first-hand how Brevitas has transformed the way properties are marketed internationally. Brevitas was designed to be more than just a listing site – it is a deal-making platform that supports the entire transaction lifecycle in a global context. When you list on Brevitas, you’re not just posting an ad; you’re entering a marketplace that facilitates connections, negotiations, and closings across borders. Let’s recap some of the standout advantages that make Brevitas the right choice for selling properties internationally or for any CRE needs:

Worldwide Reach with Local Expertise: Brevitas’s community includes brokers and buyers from all major markets. Your listing can gain traction in New York, London, Dubai, Hong Kong, and beyond. This breadth is complemented by the fact that many Brevitas members are seasoned local experts in their regions – so inquiries you get may come with local market knowledge attached, smoothing the path to closing.
High-Caliber Network: The platform’s user base skews toward professionals and serious investors. It’s common to have institutional buyers, REIT managers, or family office representatives browsing Brevitas for deals. The benefit to you as a seller is that you’re dealing with high-caliber counterparties. A wider net is cast, but it’s not full of tire-kickers; it’s full of credible leads.
Integrated Deal Tools: Brevitas is built with an end-to-end mindset. After attracting a buyer, you can move seamlessly into a negotiation phase using the platform’s secure messaging and document sharing. For instance, you might grant an interested buyer access to a private deal room where they can review financial documents, property surveys, or tenancy schedules. You can even manage NDAs through the platform to ensure sensitive information stays protected. By having these tools integrated, Brevitas reduces the friction that often comes with cross-border deals (like waiting for couriers or dealing with incompatible email systems and large file transfers).
Capital Markets Integration: Uniquely, Brevitas also connects to capital sources and financing options. International investors often need local financing or joint venture partners. Through its network and partnerships, Brevitas can help facilitate introductions to lenders or equity partners. This is particularly useful in commercial deals where financing is a part of the transaction – being able to point buyers toward financing solutions can make your property more attractive and the deal process smoother.
Trust and Transparency: Brevitas, as a company, has established partnerships with industry organizations that add to its credibility. (For example, the platform was selected by the National Association of Realtors as a partner to help Realtors market commercial listings to a wider audience.)[3] Such endorsements mean that when you choose Brevitas, you’re aligning with a platform that is trusted in the professional community. Transparency comes into play with verified profiles and a review system – both parties can see who they are dealing with, building confidence that is crucial in international transactions.

Ultimately, Brevitas offers an unparalleled combination of global exposure, targeted marketing, and transaction support. It was built by professionals who understand the nuances of real estate investing and who saw the need for a modern, internationally accessible marketplace. Whether you’re a broker with a portfolio of commercial properties or an owner of a single luxury asset, using Brevitas as your listing platform means you’re plugging into a sophisticated ecosystem designed to deliver results.

In a world where capital knows no borders, having the right platform to showcase your property is the key to unlocking its maximum value. Brevitas stands out as that platform – one that not only connects sellers with buyers worldwide but also provides the tools and confidence to get deals done. When it comes to choosing the right listing platform to market properties internationally or for commercial real estate, the verdict from experience is clear: a globally oriented, feature-rich platform like Brevitas is the strategic choice to achieve success.