The Overlooked Revenue Opportunity for Agents Selling Overseas Property

Published on 25 August 2026 at 21:26

Elly Herriman of Overseas Property Insider discussing additional revenue opportunities and client services for international property agents and developers.

For estate agents and property developers working with international buyers, the service you provide rarely ends with finding the right property.

Your buyer still has to reserve it, make staged payments, transfer the completion balance and, in many cases, continue moving money internationally after they own the property.

Currency exchange is therefore already part of the transaction.

But it is also an area of the buying process that can easily be overlooked.

Your buyer is going to transfer the money somewhere

An overseas buyer purchasing a €500,000 property from the UK may need to move hundreds of thousands of pounds into euros.

They can simply approach their bank, search online for a currency provider themselves, or they can be introduced to a specialist by someone they already trust.

For an agent or developer, making that introduction can improve the service offered to the buyer without requiring you to become a currency expert yourself.

A specialist currency provider can help buyers understand exchange rates, transfer timings and the different options available when payments need to be made over a period of time.

That becomes particularly relevant with off-plan and new-build property, where payments may be spread across several months or even years.

It can improve the buyer experience

Buying property abroad involves far more than choosing a home.

Buyers may need lawyers, tax advisers, mortgage specialists, currency specialists, insurance providers and other professional services along the way.

The agents and developers who can connect buyers with reputable specialists can make that process considerably easier.

Rather than telling a client, “You’ll need to arrange the currency transfer,” you can point them towards someone who can actually help them with it.

It is a relatively small addition to your service, but potentially an important one for the buyer.

There can also be a commercial benefit

This is where the model becomes particularly interesting for property businesses.

Some specialist service providers operate referral or introducer programmes, meaning agents and developers can receive a fee or commission when an introduced client goes on to use the service.

The buyer needs the service anyway.

The agent makes the introduction.

The specialist handles the transaction.

Where an appropriate referral arrangement exists, the property business can potentially create an additional revenue stream without adding another service for its own team to administer.

For businesses already generating a significant number of international property transactions, those introductions can add up.

It shouldn't be about selling another product

There is an important distinction here.

Ancillary revenue works best when the service being introduced genuinely adds something to the client's experience.

The objective shouldn't be to find as many things as possible to sell to a buyer.

It should be to identify the services they are already likely to need and make it easier for them to access good professional support.

Currency is a particularly obvious example because virtually every cross-border property purchase involves moving money between currencies at some stage.

If the introduction also creates revenue for the agent or developer, that is a commercial benefit alongside the improved client service.

Think beyond the property commission

Property businesses spend considerable amounts of money generating enquiries, building databases and acquiring clients.

Once that relationship exists, there may be opportunities to create additional value for both sides.

Currency services are one example. Depending on the market and business model, there may also be opportunities around mortgages, insurance, legal services, property management and other services connected with international ownership.

The key is choosing partnerships that are relevant, transparent and genuinely useful to the buyer.

For agents and developers operating internationally, the question may therefore be worth asking:

Are there services your clients already need that you could be helping them access, while also creating an additional revenue stream for your business?

Overseas Property Insider works with First Class Currency to provide specialist currency support for international property buyers, with an introducer opportunity available to qualifying agents, developers and property businesses.

What can specialist currency support offer your clients?

For an overseas property buyer, using a currency specialist can offer considerably more than simply transferring money from one country to another.

First Class Currency can help buyers plan the currency side of their purchase, including deposits, staged payments and completion funds.

Depending on the transaction, buyers may also be able to secure an exchange rate in advance, helping provide certainty over the cost of a future property payment.

This can be particularly useful with off-plan property. If a buyer has a substantial payment due six or twelve months from now, movements in the exchange rate could significantly change how much that payment ultimately costs them.

Specialist support can also include rate monitoring, target rates, forward contracts, planning multiple transfers and support with large international payments, depending on the buyer's requirements and eligibility.

Through the dedicated currency service, buyers may also save up to 5% on the cost of their property, depending on the transaction and provider being compared.

For the agent or developer, this makes the introduction about far more than referral income. It gives the client access to a specialist service that could help them plan their purchase, manage currency risk and potentially reduce their overall costs.

For businesses considering this type of partnership, it provides a practical example of how an ancillary service can sit alongside the property transaction rather than complicating it.

Currency options are subject to individual circumstances and eligibility. Exchange rates can move both favourably and unfavourably. Potential savings depend on the transaction, currencies, timing and provider being compared.

International buyers often need to exchange substantial amounts of money to pay for deposits, staged payments and completion. Introducing them to a specialist currency provider gives the buyer access to professional support rather than leaving them to arrange a large international transfer alone.

Write a description for this subheader or Buyers can use their bank, but specialist currency providers focus specifically on international money transfers and foreign exchange.

For a substantial overseas property purchase, buyers may benefit from competitive exchange rates, specialist support and help planning multiple payments rather than simply arranging individual bank transfers.change it to your liking.

You can speak directly to Elly Herriman, Founder of Overseas Property Insider.

With more than 20 years of experience in the international property industry, Elly provides independent guidance to agents, developers and property businesses looking to improve their international reach, provide additional support to buyers and explore relevant additional revenue opportunities.

Explore Opportunities for Agents & Developers

Potential currency savings will depend on the individual transaction, currencies involved, exchange rates and the alternative provider or service being compared. Terms and conditions apply.

Yes. One of the advantages of using a specialist currency provider is the ability, where appropriate, to secure an exchange rate for a payment that will be made in the future.

This can be particularly useful for off-plan and new-build property purchases.

For example, a buyer may agree to purchase a €500,000 property today but have further stage payments or the final completion balance due several months later. If the exchange rate moves against them during that period, the property could effectively become thousands of pounds more expensive in sterling terms.

First Class Currency can discuss options such as a forward contract, which can allow a buyer to fix an exchange rate in advance for an agreed future transfer.

This gives the buyer greater certainty over what their property payments will cost in their home currency and can make budgeting for the purchase considerably easier.

Banks can, of course, send money internationally, but a specialist currency provider can offer a much more tailored service for an overseas property transaction.

With First Class Currency, buyers can benefit from:

The ability to secure an exchange rate in advance, where appropriate, helping protect future property payments from adverse currency movements.

Forward contracts for buyers who know they will need to make a payment at a later date.

Rate monitoring, so buyers don't have to continually watch the currency markets themselves.

Target rates, where available, allowing a buyer to identify a preferred exchange rate and potentially act if the market reaches that level.

Planning staged payments for off-plan and new-build purchases rather than treating every transfer as a separate transaction.

A dedicated currency specialist who understands the timings and requirements involved in overseas property purchases.

Competitive exchange rates, with the dedicated service potentially saving buyers up to 5% on the cost of their property.*

Support with large international transfers, including coordinating funds around deposits and completion dates.

Ongoing support, rather than simply processing a one-off international bank transfer.

The biggest difference is therefore not simply the exchange rate.

For an overseas property buyer, a specialist can help them plan the currency side of the purchase, understand their options and reduce some of the uncertainty created by exchange-rate movements.

For agents and developers, introducing that level of support can make a genuine difference to the client's buying experience, while also creating a potential additional revenue opportunity for the business.

Currency products and strategies will depend on the individual client's circumstances and eligibility. Exchange rates can move both favourably and unfavourably. Potential savings depend on the transaction, currencies, timing and provider being compared.

Potentially, yes. First Class Currency's dedicated currency service can potentially save buyers up to 5% on the cost of their property.*

The actual saving will depend on factors including the currencies being exchanged, the value and timing of the transaction, exchange rates and the alternative service being compared.

Some currency providers operate introducer programmes for property businesses.

The agent or developer introduces a client who requires a currency transfer, while the specialist handles the currency service directly with the buyer. Where the client goes on to use the service and the terms of the introducer arrangement are met, the referring business may receive commission or a referral fee.

No. The purpose of introducing a specialist is that the agent or developer does not need to become a currency expert or manage the transaction themselves.

The specialist deals directly with the client regarding their currency requirements.

It shouldn't be.

The starting point should always be whether the introduction is genuinely useful to the buyer. International property purchasers already need to move money, so providing access to a specialist can form part of a more complete client service.

The opportunity to generate additional revenue is a commercial benefit alongside that improved buyer experience.

Depending on the business and destination, international buyers may also require legal services, mortgages, tax support, insurance, property management and other specialist services.

The important consideration is that any partnership should be relevant, transparent and genuinely useful to the client.

Yes. This can be particularly useful for off-plan and new-build purchases where payments are made in stages.

Exchange rates can move between reservation and completion, potentially changing how much each payment costs in the buyer's home currency. A currency specialist can discuss the available options for planning future payments and managing exposure to exchange-rate movements.