Working in real estate and property abroad abroad: what is it, why would you do it, and where is the best place to go?

What is working in real estate and property abroad abroad like?

• Working in real estate and property abroad involves everything related to living, working, moving, and managing buildings and spaces.
• This could mean selling houses, managing properties, or conducting viewings, but it could also mean moving furniture, transporting materials, or ensuring a building is ready for occupancy.
• Duties include:
  • Real Estate & Management: property management, maintenance planning, key management, and inspections.
  • Sales & Leasing: viewings, customer contact, preparing contracts, and after-sales service.
  • Logistics & Transport: transporting furniture, building materials, or household goods.
  • Chauffeur Service: driving for removals, real estate companies, and service and maintenance teams.
  • Relocation Work: packing and unpacking, carrying, assembling, and supervising international relocations.
  • Support Roles: planning, administration, customer service, and coordination.
• Working conditions: It includes paid work, temporary contracts, and seasonal work.
• Often full-time, sometimes project-based.
• Salaries vary considerably by country and position. Regularly long days, but also clear work structures.
• Sometimes housing or travel reimbursement is provided by your employer.
• What makes real estate work abroad unique is that it often revolves around practicality in an unfamiliar environment: different rules, different cultures, different expectations. And yes, sometimes different outlets too.

What are the reasons for working in real estate and property abroad abroad?

• To develop organizational awareness: real estate work requires insight into structures, planning, and responsibilities.
• To strengthen flexibility: no two days are the same, especially when it comes to relocations and logistics.
• To train communication skills: constant contact with clients, colleagues, and external parties is essential.
• To build stress resistance: deadlines, physical labor, and unexpected situations require calm.
• To work results-oriented: delivering a property, completing a relocation, or successfully executing a transport provides immediate satisfaction.

What skills and motivations do you need to work in real estate and property abroad abroad?

• Being environmentally aware: taking into account local regulations, traffic situations, and working conditions.
• Organizational awareness: understanding how real estate companies, relocation teams, or logistics chains operate.
• Communication: communicating clearly with clients, planners, and colleagues.
• Flexibility: managing varying working hours, locations, and tasks.
• Resilience to stress: remaining functional under time pressure or physical demands.
• Self-confidence: acting independently in practical decisions.

What are the best countries and locations to work in real estate and property abroad?

• Countries with a high volume of logistics, relocation, and transport work: Australia, Canada, the United States, Germany.
• Countries with strong real estate and rental markets: Spain, Portugal, France, Italy.
• Countries with international relocation and expat markets: the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Hong Kong.
• Countries with growing cities and construction sectors: Poland, the Czech Republic, Vietnam, Mexico.
• Countries with seasonal real estate and tourism: Greece, Croatia, Thailand, South Africa.

What are the risks of working in real estate and property abroad, and are you insured against those risks? 

• What are the risks of working in real estate and property abroad abroad?
  • The work is often physically demanding, especially in moving and logistics.
  • Traffic risks often increase, especially when driving in unfamiliar countries.
  • Long working days are common, especially during deadlines or international moves.
  • Unsafe working environments are common: infrastructure, health risks, political instability, and social norms.
  • It's not uncommon for someone to contract a contagious or local disease, be unable to work for a period, or even need to be flown home.
• Are you insured while working in real estate and property abroad?
  • There may be several reasons why you need separate insurance when working abroad.
  • Local employers generally offer limited or no supplementary insurance.
  • There's a risk of accidents, for example, because you're doing work with which you have little experience.
  • During work, internships, or volunteering abroad where you receive compensation or a salary, your own health insurance coverage in your home country may be cancelled.
  • See the pages on: insuring international Insurances for working abroad, for internships abroad, for volunteering abroad, or for expats and emigrants.