Foreign Investment in US Residential Real Estate Plummets

Florida remains the top destination for foreign buyers despite slowing marketplace

According to a new report from the National Association of Realtors, foreign buyers purchased $42 billion worth of US existing homes from April 2023 through March 2024, retreating 21.2% from the prior 12-month period. International buyers purchased 54,300 properties, down 36% from the previous year and the fewest number of homes bought since 2009 when NAR began tracking this data. Overall, US existing home sales totaled 4.09 million in 2023, down 18.7% from 2022, and the lowest level since 1995.

The strong US dollar makes international travel cheaper for Americans but makes US homes much more expensive for foreigners," said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. "Therefore, it's not surprising to see a pullback in US home sales from foreign buyers.

NAR's 2024 International Transactions in US Residential Real Estate report surveyed members about transactions with international clients who purchased and sold US residential property from April 2023 through March 2024. Foreign buyers who resided in the US as recent immigrants or who were holding visas that allowed them to live in the US purchased $22.6 billion worth of US existing homes, a 3.4% decline from the previous year and representing 54% of the dollar volume of purchases.

Foreign buyers who lived abroad purchased $19.4 billion worth of existing homes, down 35% from the 12 months prior and accounting for 46% of the dollar volume. International buyers accounted for 2% of the $2.1 trillion in total US existing-home sales during that period. "Historically low housing inventory and escalating prices remain significant factors in constraining home sales for American and international buyers alike," Yun added.

The average ($780,300) and median ($475,000) existing-home sales prices among international buyers were the highest ever recorded by NAR - and 21.9% and 19.8% higher, respectively, than the prior year. The increase in prices for foreign buyers reflected the overall price increase for all US existing homes, which climbed to $392,600. At $1.3 million, Chinese buyers had the highest average purchase price, with 25% purchasing property in California. In total, 18% of international buyers purchased properties worth more than $1 million from April 2023 to March 2024.

Canada led all countries of origin in the share of foreign buyer purchases of US existing homes at 13%, followed by China and Mexico (11% each), and India (10%). China was first in US residential sales dollar volume at $7.5 billion, continuing a trend going back to 2013. Canada ($5.9 billion), India ($4.1 billion), Mexico ($2.8 billion) and Colombia ($0.7 billion) rounded out the top five.

For the 16th consecutive year, Florida remained the top destination for foreign buyers, accounting for 20% of all international purchases. Texas (13%) and California (11%) were second and third, respectively, followed by Arizona (5%), Georgia, New Jersey, New York and North Carolina (4% each).

All-cash sales accounted for half of international buyer transactions compared to 28% of all existing-home buyers. Non-resident foreign buyers (68%) were more likely to make an all-cash purchase than resident foreign buyers (36%). More than two-thirds of Canadian (69%) and Chinese (68%) buyers made all-cash purchases, the highest shares among the top foreign buyer nations.