Simon Baker launches global online property platform to tap into international buyers

Internet investor and former realestate.com.au chief Simon Baker has launched a new online property business that will allow property vendors around the world to list their properties on a network of leading property websites around the world.

For $US90, agents can list their property with Baker’s new company, called ListGlobally. The ad will then be posted on a network of property classifieds sites around the world, including sites in Britain, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Japan and India.

There are currently 10 classifieds sites in the network, but Baker expects to add three more by the end of the month and another 10 by the end of the year.

Baker says the platform, which currently has a staff of five, is designed to target international property buyers who want to be able to search on trusted and well-known sites for overseas buying opportunities.

He claims statistics show 5% of US property sales are made by overseas buyers.

“That could be an expat coming home, it could be an investor, or it could be someone moving there.”

The company is trying to market itself to agents via extensive email marketing campaigns as well as through market intermediaries. Baker says the focus is currently on areas where international buyers want to target, including New York, Australia, the French Riviera and parts of Spain.

While many of these areas sounds ritzy, Baker says international property investment is not just for the rich, and says the average sale price of a property purchased in the US by international buyers is a modest $US250,000.

He also believes sellers might underestimate the potential for international sales.

“If you are in WA, getting exposure to South Africa is important. If you are on the east coast of the US, getting exposure to the Russian market is important.”

Since leaving realstate.com.au in 2008, Baker has become one of Australia’s most prominent technology investors through his company Classified AdVentures.

It specialises in classified internet businesses and has investments in companies include Car Advice, iProperty.com, Quikflix and Hippo.

Baker believes this latest investment will be a winner.

“I expect this to be quite a nice little business. We’ve just been redoing the maths, as you do regularly, and we’re smiling.”