Ciara Halloran Speaks, Receives Award at Global Real Estate Summit

Ciara Halloran, a member of the Centre County Association of Realtors®, served as a U.S. delegate and a panelist speaker at the Association of Estate Agents in Nigeria Summit in April. Halloran is a member of the National Association of Realtors® Global Business and Alliance Committee, which focuses on anticipating, analyzing and developing policy on global issues.

“I was honored to attend the AEAN Summit as a U.S. delegate and participate as a panelist speaker,” Halloran shared in her post-trip newsletter. “This global real estate association promotes global best practices and the highest-level code of conduct. The summit theme was ‘Building Enduring Partnerships for the Future,’ and the weeklong program included a 10-year anniversary celebration.”

“We came together from Ghana, Uganda and the United States to share and exchange knowledge, grow our networks, support our colleagues and collaborate to improve business and strengthen our partnerships,” she continued.

Halloran, originally from South Africa, served as an unofficial representative from her homeland while learning more about Nigerian investment opportunities and smart city projects.

“As a Certified International Property Specialist and a global real estate advisor, as well as a local Realtor®, this knowledge and experience helps me serve my clients and investors better,” she said.

In addition to speaking at the summit, she received two awards of excellence – one for speaking on an AEAN webinar earlier this year, and one for being a panelist speaker at the summit.

“There were so many highlights from this event,” Halloran summed up. “I was grateful to receive two awards of excellence. I was honored to wear traditional Nigerian attire they had made for me with a gele for the Afrobeats Gala. And I deeply appreciated all the people I met and the warmth and beauty of Nigerian hospitality.”

When asked how U.S. real estate compares to that of Africa, she said, “Every country (in Africa and otherwise) has its own intricacies and can be very different from the U.S. This is why partnering with a Realtor® in one of our international bilateral partner countries or International Realtor® Members is important, because we all agree to abide by the same ethical guidelines, which gives us a jumpstart of trust in the transaction. Trust can be a major hurdle in any business transaction. But even better, partnering with a knowledgeable CIPS counterpart in another country makes the transaction experience and service for our client smoother.”

As for Pennsylvania, Halloran said she sees many global buyers in Centre County. She shared that State College has the third highest Asian population in Pennsylvania, and the state’s various universities attract international students who look for off-campus housing and post-grad jobs with Pennsylvania employers. In 2021, Penn State attracted the largest number of international students (8,267) in the state.

“Local (real estate) is global,” Halloran said. “Whether working with foreign nationals, diaspora or U.S. citizens looking to purchase abroad, global real estate transactions happen every day. A knowledge of global real estate helps provide business growth opportunities for Realtor® members and their clients (portfolio diversification, second home and investment options). The world is literally your oyster. It helps foster diversity, equity and inclusion when you learn about other cultures.”

“Globally, the Realtor® brand image is recognized and valuable aiding in the pursuit of international business in real estate.”

“Educating yourself about international cultures and customs empowers agents to better serve their community with their real estate needs, regardless of language or national origin,” Halloran concluded. “When you are equipped with the knowledge that the CIPS designation and Global programs provide, you unlock a world of opportunities to grow your business.”