European buyers like windows, closet space

Sellers hoping to attract European buyers could take a tip or two from the Engel & Völkers Group. 

According to the luxury real estate firm, which has offices in 24 countries, such buyers are most interested in amenities they can't find at home. Bless their adventurous souls.

That said, the features they are seeking aren't so uncommon here in Southern California. Among them are large windows, high ceilings and open floor plans. Walk-in closets and large eat-in kitchens, atypical in European homes, also appeal, as do mega-refrigerators, built-in speaker systems and iPod docking stations.

Whether sellers are concerned with snagging international buyers or not, area real estate agents are taking this group of potential clients seriously. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Co.-Greater L.A. surveyed 2,500 of their agents this summer to determine how active international buyers and sellers are locally. 

Less than half of the agents surveyed -- 42% -- had worked with a buyer or seller from outside the country in the last year, and of those who had, 54% indicated they had completed up to three transactions. The luxury market was the biggest beneficiary with 50% of the sales in the $1-million to $5-million range.

Another reason to take notice: The National Assn. of Realtors reports that after Florida, California is the next most popular state with the international crowd.

-- Lauren Beale

Your thoughts? Comments?

Photo: Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Amazing_Happens]

And bidets. Don't forget that European buyers want bidets.

[Buy My House]

As a Brit, I would agree with what you said about walk-in closets and large kitchens, mega-refrigerators (or Amercian fridges as we call them over here!), built-in speaker systems and iPod docking stations. We do also like large windows, high ceilings and open floor plans - light and airy is very much en vogue here. Not sure about the bidet, not in the UK at least. There is a trend over here, at the moment, for wet rooms, that is walk-in shower/bathrooms that are fully tiled. We also like several en-suites, and a balcony should planning allow. And of course, us Brits love our gardens - the bigger the better - even though we don't get much BBQ weather over here!

[allsouledout]

Anecdotes like this - and others recently like listing houses in euros - can only mean one thing - the dollar has officially bottomed and is on its way back - it's like cab drivers having stock tips in 1999!

[westham]

Um. Europe is in a recession too.

[Totalrenovering]

thanks for sharing!