Expansion of BiggerPockets?

Question

I’m really enjoying the BiggerPockets platform and have learned so much here. Have you guys thought about expanding beyond the US borders? I know the US real estate market is in many ways similar to a lot of real estate markets across the world but there different rules and in other parts of the world. It would really be good to have something like this outside the US.

Brandon Goldsmith · Answer

I have been doing a lot of research on a few countries in South America and hopefully, in the next year, I am able to start investing internally. From what I have seen a lot of things are the same as far as generally speaking about real estate, but the lending and legality of it may differ from country to country. @Thomas Mofokeng

Scott Trench · Answer

Hello! Great topic. I was recently asked about how foreigners could invest in US real estate and am embarrassed to say that I don't even have the faintest idea about how this would work. I'd love to learn more about how folks can do this.

As far as expanding internationally, I think that for now, our focus is on the US and Canada. But, as we really master our current operations here in the US, I can definitely see us expanding internationally one day!

In the more immediate future, I would be all ears about how we can help folks outside of the US invest in US real estate profitably. I think that's a great benefit/content/community that we could certainly provide.

How could I get started exploring this possibility?

Mike Lambert · Answer

@Thomas Mofokeng

Real estate is real estate of course. However, real estate overseas is actually very different from the US, with maybe the exception of Canada (which still has significant differences).

Among other things, the legal and banking systems are oftentimes very different, as is the local investing culture (or lack thereof).

As mentioned by @Joe Splitrock, there is an international forum here but there’s a lot of wrong information there, which I’ve been trying to correct whenever I encounter it.

After almost 500 replies to posts related to international investing, many members have contacted me to either compliment me on the quality of my content and to ask me for further help. As s as result, I’m working on a somewhat “comprehensive” resource with some other members from here. I can let you know about our plans if interested.

Joe Splitrock · Answer

@Thomas Mofokeng we have many international members, but not country specific or non-english forums. I know from my day job in marketing at a different company that the cost of supporting international websites is very expensive, so my guess is this comes down to cost/benefit. I am sure it is on their radar but lets ask  @Scott Trench

Mike Lambert · Answer

@Steve Smith

On the one hand, the differences are  much bigger than you suggest and have little to do with the difference between Sydney and Brisbane, where the mechanics are pretty similar. It’s a question of different banking and legal systems, financing opportunities and leverage (or the lack thereof), language, culture, strategies that with and others that don’t, having people on the ground you can trust, ....

On the other hand, many people are doing it. It can be complicated, depending on what you want to do.

If you’re the kind of person who likes to diversify your assets, learn or take calculated risks, it might be for you.

Thomas Mofokeng · Answer

@Joe Splitrock, thank you.@Steve Smith, that’s so true. @Mike Lambert, I am interested, please let me know of your plans. @Brandon Goldsmith, yes, that’s my observation too. @Scott Trench, I am not from the US and have never been to the US, but of course at some point I hope to invest in the US real estate as a foreigner. At the moment, I am getting my real estate education from the US via books by American authors, BiggerPockets authors, the BiggerPockets platform and podcasts. I live and work in Dubai, and I am long-distance real estate investor in my home country South Africa. See the dynamics? I think to get started, BiggerPockets might want to look in to partnering with real estate platforms/institutions of foreign countries to bring a comprehensive platform like this one.

Expansion of BiggerPockets?

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