On May 20th, the Chicago REALTORS® Global Real Estate Council hosted Golden Visas: Navigating International Business, a program exploring how investor immigration programs are shaping the way clients think about lifestyle, investment, residency and long-term planning. Two Chicago-area professionals shared their expertise, spotlighting different investment and residency opportunities that could have an impact on how you operate your business at the global level.
REALTORS® who understand the basics of these programs will be better positioned to identify client needs, ask better questions and make stronger referrals.
Click below to meet the speakers, and keep reading to learn how global investment programs are creating real opportunities for Chicago REALTORS®.
Meet The Speakers
Cleo Aquino
Co-Founder | Mahjong Chicago LLC
Event Host
Tejas Shah
Partner | Barnes and Thornburg
Featured Speaker
Frederica Tassis
Broker & Owner | CENTURY 21 North East
Featured Speaker
the eb-5 program: What INVESTORS need and what REALTORS® should know
The EB-5 program offers a path to permanent U.S. residency through investment, but it’s not as simple as writing a check. Tejas Shah explained that investors must use actual, documented investment amounts and be prepared to trace every dollar back to its source. The program operates through USCIS-approved “regional centers,” entities that must meet increasingly stringent requirements to maintain their designation.
Previously, hundreds of regional centers operated across the country with minimal oversight, leading to widespread fraud. As a result, the immigration agency raised the bar significantly, and today’s applicants should expect a much more rigorous review process.
Stacking Immigration Pathways FOR SUCCESS
The EB-5 program is just one piece of a larger puzzle. Because it’s open to nationals from every country, it can serve as a strong foundation — but for clients serious about making the U.S. their permanent home, the real opportunity lies in strategic planning.
Shah emphasized that immigration pathways are best thought of as stackable: combining programs intentionally can create faster, more reliable routes to living and working in the United States. Timing matters too, as some investment-based programs include blackout periods, making sequencing a critical part of any long-term plan.
Greece’s Residency-by-Investment Program: Key Details for Client Conversations
Greece’s residency-by-investment program is attracting clients from across the globe, and for good reason. Frederica Tassis explained key requirements and benefits for investors interested in expanding to Greece:
- The minimum investment threshold sits at 800,000 euros.
- There is no physical residency requirement, meaning buyers don’t have to live in Greece to maintain their status.
- Once obtained, the resident visa automatically renews for another five years as long as the property is held.
On top of all of this, Greece’s membership in the Schengen Area means visa holders gain broad travel access across the zone, a significant lifestyle benefit for international clients.
Greek Real Estate Returns: The Numbers Speak for Themselves
Another plus Tassis shared is that investors are seeing rental yields in the 6-8% range, competitive by any global standard. For clients who want both lifestyle access and a return on investment, the Greek market is currently delivering on both fronts.
Global Real Estate Is No Longer a Niche — Are You Ready?
Whether you’re helping a client navigate the path to U.S. residency through EB-5 or exploring a lifestyle investment outside the U.S., global real estate is no longer a niche. It’s an expanding part of how clients are thinking about their futures, and REALTORS® who are fluent in these conversations will be the ones they turn to.
The Chicago REALTORS® Global Real Estate Council exists to help members build that fluency.
Through programming, networking and resources focused on global real estate, the Council connects Chicago-area professionals with the knowledge and relationships needed to serve a global clientele. Learn more about the Global Real Estate Council and be part of the conversations shaping the future of international real estate in Chicago.