At a gathering of international real estate professionals in Lagos, Nigeria, this week, National Association of REALTORS® President-elect Kevin Brown and other REALTOR® association leaders met with the NAR’s bilaterial partners, emphasizing the importance of collaboration on common issues.
“Whether in the United States or here in Africa, the challenge of making housing more available, affordable and accessible is very real,” Brown said during a summit with leaders from partner organizations in Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda. “To capitalize on our shared strengths, overcome our shared challenges and build a better, more sustainable future—we must work together.”
Advocating for Affordability Solutions
The 2025 NAR Regional Summit: Strengthening Partnerships for Sustainable Development through Collaboration, Growth, Innovation and Resilience in Africa, took place June 9 before the kickoff of the 75th FIABCI World Real Estate Congress. The summit provided a forum for sharing NAR updates and building relationships between NAR’s regional bilateral partners, affiliates, and other important stakeholders. Participants in the summit included international REALTOR® members from the region and four of NARs bilateral partners: Ghana Real Estate Professionals Association (GREPA); Association of Estate Agents of Nigeria (AEAN), Real Estate Business Owners of South Africa (REBOSA) and Association of Estate Agents of Uganda (AREA-U).
The leaders discussed cross-border collaboration, investment readiness, and the need for good data and coordinated advocacy in strengthening global real estate markets.
Frank Oti, a Los Angeles–area practitioner and NAR’s global ambassador to Africa, highlighted one of the biggest barriers in that region: lack of mortgage accessibility. Speaking to TVC News Lagos, he said, “There’s no way anybody can afford to buy a home with 27%–30% interest rates.” To make homeownership feasible for more people, he said, “the government needs to step in and encourage foreign direct investment and [the creation of] mortgages.”
Brown, a broker from Lake Tahoe, Calif., shared some of the advocacy solutions U.S. practitioners are supporting, such as zoning and tax reforms and incentives for developers to build affordable units. He also stressed the importance of private property rights and initiatives that promote sustainability—such as energy-efficient housing and climate-resilient infrastructure.
Fostering Global Connections
The FIABCI World Congress brings together professionals from every part of the real estate ecosystem—including brokers, developers, architects and investors. The 2025 Congress—taking place June 9–14 in Lagos, Nigeria—is FIABCI’s first-ever World Congress on the African continent.
Co-organized by FIABCI Nigeria and the Association of Estate Agents of Nigeria—one of NAR’s bilateral partners—the event featured a high-profile lineup, including the current president of Nigeria—Bola Ahmed Tinubu—as well as Nigerian ministers and representatives from institutions such as the World Bank and Nigeria’s National Real Estate Registration Services Company.
In a keynote address delivered June 10, Brown explained what it means to be a REALTOR®—a member of NAR with a commitment to a Code of Ethics. He also underscored the value of global expertise, regardless of where you practice real estate. With foreign investment pouring into U.S. real estate, NAR members need to be more than local experts, he said. “They need to be a global connector, a cultural translator and a trusted adviser in an increasingly borderless market.”
Brown offered four ways real estate professionals from any country can foster greater global connectivity:
- Seek professional development opportunities: Brown highlighted NAR’s commitment to empowering real estate professionals worldwide through education. For example, real estate professionals can expand their knowledge by pursuing designations and certifications, like the Certified International Property Specialist, an NAR international education program, that covers topics like cross-cultural transactions, currency exchange and how to navigate global markets. The CIPS designation also offers a mentor program and the ability to connect with other CIPS designees through in-person and virtual networking.
- Be data driven: Numbers offer a picture of where international commerce in real estate is growing. For example, according to NAR’s 2024 Profile of International Transactions in U.S. Residential Real Estate, $42 billion in U.S. home sales between April 2023 and March 2024 were to foreign buyers. Local Market Assessments in each of NAR’s 13 regions provide regional insights to identify global opportunities.
- Embrace innovation: “Technology, cross-border investment and shifting consumer expectations are transforming the global real estate market,” Brown said. NAR’s Second Century Ventures and its REACH program support real estate innovation globally, with REACH initiatives in North America, Latin America, Australia, Canada, Israel and the United Kingdom.
- Build diverse teams and foster dialogue: Brown emphasized the value of diverse perspectives in finding innovative solutions to industry challenges. “Engage with people who think differently than you,” he said. “It’s easy to listen when you agree with the other person’s perspective. But it’s just as important—if not more so—to listen to those you disagree with.”
NAR is a principal member of FIABCI-USA and has maintained strong representation in both national and international FIABCI activities for decades. Brown praised the partnership between NAR and FIABCI as an example of effective cross-border collaboration. The organizations jointly promote ethical practices, facilitate international business opportunities and help drive innovation in the industry.
“We can’t just think of our local, regional and national communities,” Brown said. “We need to think about our global community. … It’s so important that we continue to build bridges and cultivate deeper ties with our international partners. … REALTORS® make a difference in communities across the globe. Our world is changing fast—and if we work together, we can shape a real estate future that is more equitable, sustainable and inclusive for all.”
