Posted on 08/04/2026 12:11:56 PM PDT by Twotone
Foreign buyers pulled back from the U.S. housing market over the past year, buying $45.3 billion worth of existing homes, the second-lowest level on record, according to a new report.
Foreigners bought those homes from April 2025 through March 2026, according to the National Association of Realtors 2026 International Transactions in U.S. Residential Real Estate report. That's a 19.1% decrease in dollar value and a 14% drop in the number of properties purchased from the previous 12-month period.
International buyers purchased 67,100 properties, the second-lowest level since NAR began tracking foreign buyer activity in 2009. The median purchase price was $465,000, down from last year's record high of $494,400. It's the first full-year report covering the period after President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025.
The decline in foreign buyer activity mirrors a drop in international visitors and tourists to the United States, NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said. Even a slightly weaker U.S. dollar over the past year, which gives foreign buyers more purchasing power, failed to spur more activity, he noted.
Canada returned as the top country of origin, accounting for 16% of foreign buyer purchases, up from 14% a year ago, followed by Mexico at 14%. China, last year's leader, fell to third at 11%.
(Excerpt) Read more at justthenews.com ...
Should be prohibited unless you are a citizen. Might be incentive for some loafers to get naturalized.
China met quota?.
It also might have something to do with the strength of the US DOLLAR in relation to most other currencies.
yes, yes, and yes. can we also put a 5-10 year moratorium on accepting foreign college students?
Why are Chinese Commies allowed to buy US property ?
We are suicidal to allow this .
they could actually make housing a little less expensive if they cut foreign home buyers out of the US market.
No foreigner is ever going to buy in New York City of course, or they will have to pay Mamdani’s new extortion.
Canada returned as the top country of origin, accounting for 16% of foreign buyer purchases, up from 14% a year ago, followed by Mexico at 14%. China, last year’s leader, fell to third at 11%.
I wonder how many of those “Canada purchasers” are actually Chinese Canadians. Canada is a top destination for Chinese CP brats.
We should restrict non resident aliens on purchases of residential real estate. We’re one of the only countries that places no restrictions on foreigners. Canada and Australia and New Zealand already put strict limits on foreigners.
I’m not sure if it’s still true, but in Mexico, foreigners couldn’t buy residential property. It was common to get a 99 year lease from the builder, but no outright ownership.
Long term lease is permitted but even there they have restrictions.
And if they permit you to buy it is one property only. And you are red lined out of certain areas.
Searching Google with the terms “fannie mae H-1B” yields the following from its AI :
“...
Mortgage and Home Loan Eligibility
Borrower approval: H-1B visa holders are fully eligible for conventional home mortgages backed by Fannie Mae under the same baseline terms as U.S. citizens. [1, 2]
Can H-1B Holders Get a US Home Loan Without Credit? Truth Explained
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuYEaCrtBpY
Documentation rules: Borrowers must possess a valid Social Security Number (SSN) and a current, verified legal status documented by an unexpired work visa or I-94/I-797 paperwork.”
Searching Google with the terms “freddie mac H-1B” yields the following from its AI :
“...
Mortgage Guidelines for H-1B Holders
Loan Eligibility: Non-U.S. citizens with nonpermanent lawful residency status (such as an H-1B visa) are eligible for Freddie Mac mortgage guidelines on the same terms as U.S. citizens, provided they have valid residency status and meet standard credit requirements (typically a credit score of 620 or higher). [1, 2]”
This link, dated 2025 is shocking. Loans for investment and vacation homes are POSSIBLE :
Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac Mortgages for H1B Visa Holders
https://homeabroadinc.com/mortgages/fannie-mae-freddie-mac-h1b-mortgage/
Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac Mortgages for H1B Visa Holders
A credit score of 620 or higher is required to be eligible for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans.
Look at this alphabet soup of visa categories :
https://corr.pennymac.com/assets/documents/guides/pcg-non-us-citizen-documentation-requirements.pdf
Farm land abutting military bases - What’s there to worry about? They have to have somewhere to base their drones.
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