Not so long ago, pursuing business in other countries was limited to major corporations with abundant resources and a large network of political connections. Well, times have changed and expanding markets, such as real estate, are becoming more international in their scope.

For nearly a half century, the National Association of RealtorsŪ (NARŪ) has advocated private property rights and the ethical practice of real estate throughout the world. To that end, NARŪ received the Domestic partnership Award from the U.S. Agency for International Development in recognition of their work in advancing private property rights and shelter needs in Eastern Europe.

The National Association of RealtorsŪ is America's largest trade association with more than 800,000 members throughout the United States. On all levels, the organization strives to be the collective force influencing and shaping the real estate industry. It seeks to be the leading advocate for home ownership and the acknowledged leader in developing standards for ethical real estate business practices. Working on behalf of America's property owners, the National Association of RealtorsŪ provides a facility for professional development, research and exchange of information among its members and to the public and government for the purpose of preserving the free enterprise system and the right to own, use, and transfer property.

The National Association of RealtorsŪ has the goal of extending its core values, including the promotion of home ownership, private property rights and the market economy, to developing countries. This goal makes sense on many levels. Home ownership is the foundation of a strong community and it furthers social stability and economic growth. Furthermore, private property ownership and the presence of title and mortgage lending make entrepreneurial activity more readily possible and available. Therefore, it’s in the best interest of the U.S. and the rest of the world for developing countries to increase home ownership, and to embrace private property rights and free markets.

In its efforts, the NARŪ has developed an International Consortium of Real Estate Associations from around the world. There are currently 53 national associations in 44 countries who have entered into the cooperative agreement with the NARŪ. The Consortium was developed to increase global communications within the real estate industry and to help ensure home ownership opportunities and real estate professionals are available to citizens of all nations. The goal is to also enhance the ability of real estate professionals to conduct business successfully and ethically in an expanding global environment.

As part of their effort to expand real estate relations outside of the U.S., NARŪ developed a new designation for realtors called the Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS). CIPS is the specialty membership group for international practitioners who are focused specifically on the "international" market. Whether traveling abroad to put deals together, assisting foreign investors, helping local buyers invest abroad, or serving an immigrant niche in local markets, CIPS members are consumers' best resource to ensure they are dealing with a professional skilled in the unique aspects of international real estate. The CIPS Network assists the NARŪ with upholding their goal of providing reliable and ethical real estate services throughout the world.

Thanks to the information age, high-speed fiber optics and the Internet, the world is becoming more of a global community every day. One of the foundations of a successful global community is home ownership and the National Association of RealtorsŪ is doing its part to develop international relations so that home ownership can become a reality for people in all nations around the world.