Pa. Realtors® Expand Business Working with International Students

International students offer Realtors® a unique opportunity to work with clients from other countries.  Pennsylvania’s more than 300 colleges and universities are a major attraction for international students, ranking no. 6 nationally. Many look for off-campus housing while studying in the U.S. or after graduation.

Pennsylvania International Students

The U.S. Department of State reports that in 2025, there were 50,848 international students attending Pennsylvania’s higher education institutions, up .07% from 2024. China and India accounted for nearly 60% of these students. The National Association of Realtors® 2026 International Transactions in U.S. Residential Real Estate Report highlights residential real estate transactions involving international clients, with the top countries of origin being Canada, Mexico, China, India and the United Kingdom.

Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh attracted the largest number of international students (9,836), followed by the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia (9,143) and the Pennsylvania State University – University Park in State College (8,739). The University of Pittsburgh and Drexel University completed the top five institutions.

NAR’s Region II Local Market Assessment report notes, “Wealthy parents often purchase property for their child’s use during their studies. Upon graduation, the parents may sell or retain the property to produce income through student rentals.”

Realtors® Offer Their Perspectives

Realtor® Sara Leitera says she hasn’t specifically cultivated the international-student aspect of her business, but it has evolved naturally through her company’s relocation affiliation with both Carnegie Mellon and the University of Pittsburgh.

A member of the Realtors® Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh, Leitera says, “I’ve done at least a couple of transactions a year, and now that ChatGPT has come into play for referrals, I’ve received a few that way just by someone asking for an agent who helps parents buy properties for their college kid.”

She says she doesn’t work specifically with families from one particular country; however, she thinks the greatest number are from China and India.

Emily Wang, a member of the Greater Philadelphia Association of Realtors®, says she frequently works with international students and their parents. Wang is also a member of the NAR CIPS Advisory Board and a CIPS instructor.

“At least 25% of my business is helping parents and university students buy local properties and making referrals to other states after graduation,” she says. “I’ve helped cultivate this business from my connections through my church, community outreach, student organizations, global business council and cultural organizations. By helping the international students, some parents would look for real estate investment or purchase of local business opportunities.”

Wang says in addition to other international clients, she has worked mostly with parents from mainland China, but also with those from Singapore, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Canada.

According to Campus Phillyand the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, more than 20,000 international studentsenroll in higher education institutions in the Greater Philadelphia region annually, significantly contributing to the region’s economy.

Centre County Association of Realtors® member Ciara Halloran says working in State College gives her a unique opportunity with Penn State located in her community.

“I’ve worked with international students and their parents, who are purchasing housing for their children, as well as international faculty members and relocating families,” she explains. “For some parents, it’s a matter of looking at four plus years of rent and deciding whether purchasing a property makes more sense. Then, when their child graduates, they have the option to sell or keep the property as an investment afterward.”

Halloran says that Penn State currently has students from more than 140 countries, and international students represent about 10% of its undergraduate population.

“China is obviously an important market nationally, but I wouldn’t want real estate agents to think that this opportunity is limited to Chinese families. Especially in a university market like ours, clients can come from literally all over the world.”

Expanding into the International Market

For Realtors® looking to cultivate international business, these Realtors® offer some advice.

Leitera notes, “We tend to see the most activity at the beginning and end of semesters, but also late Winter due to leases often ending in March and April. Homes in the college areas do well by listing in February and March to catch those folks. And hospital residents will also get placement around the same time and will begin to look for a place to live.”

She adds, “Condos are the most popular property type for the international students I’ve worked with to purchase, but single-family homes are also popular. I’ve had folks purchase who then rent out extra rooms to other students to help pay for the property.”

And these sales often result in repeat business. Leitera says, “I typically get calls three to five years later asking me to sell their place. I’ve had some who hold onto the single-family homes and rent them to other students long after they’ve left Pittsburgh. We have a strong market for that.”

Certified International Property Specialist Designation

Both Halloran and Wang have earned the Certified International Property Specialist designation and are CIPS instructors.  They’ve grown their international client business through their CIPS designation, involvement with NAR Global and their referral networks. They encourage others to earn the CIPS designation.

“The CIPS education is invaluable for anyone wanting to work in this space. CIPS naturally fosters diversity, equity and inclusion, so the two really go hand in hand. It makes you much more aware of cultural differences in communication, negotiation, decision-making, and even attitudes toward property ownership,” Halloran explains. “It’s about learning to ask better questions, listen and understand that not everyone approaches a transaction through the same lens.”

She notes there’s also a business benefit as well. “You learn about currency, financing, tax considerations and foreign investment, while building a network of globally minded Realtors® for referrals. It can open doors to international clients coming into your market, local clients buying abroad and referral business you might otherwise never see.”

Wang adds, “You don’t need a passport to go abroad for global business. The CIPS designation opens doors to global real estate opportunities, serving international investors, U.S. residents exploring new markets and local clients interested in overseas properties. It equips Realtors® with essential knowledge, research skills, professional tools and a valuable global network to expand their businesses.”

Wang recommends building relationships with universities, local churches, community centers, chambers of commerce, cultural organizations, global business councils and the embassies and consulates of target countries and encourages connecting with international real estate consultants and participating in regional global real estate council meetings and NAR conferences to expand global networks and create new business opportunities.

Halloran says, “Global is local. You don’t have to sell property overseas to have an international real estate business. Universities, hospitals, major employers and immigrant communities are bringing international clients into markets all across Pennsylvania.”

She adds that trust is very important for this market. “Imagine buying a home thousands of miles away in a country where you may not completely understand the contracts, laws or customs. Our role becomes much more than finding a property. We help someone navigate an unfamiliar process and connect them with the right people along the way.”