5 Motivators for International Investment in U.S. Real Estate

Last year, NAR's Profile of International Home Buying Activity reported that China, Canada, Mexico, India, and the United Kingdom accounted for 51 percent of international real estate transactions in the U.S. While we may think that most international buyers are interested in luxury estates, NAR's research shows this isn't necessarily true. The report shows that global buyers are actually more modest with their purchases, with approximately 46% of purchases on property priced under $250,000.

5 trends you can expect from international buyers this year:

1. A number of foreign buyers are motivated to purchase properties in the United States to pursue educational opportunities. There were nearly one million international students studying in the United States in the 2014-15 school year, with a third of those students from China, followed by India, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Canada.

2. According to the New York Times, the top motivators for Chinese buyers are:

• Capitalizing on the surging rents in parts of the U.S. for investment properties
• Moving investments beyond the reach of the Chinese government
• Maximizing opportunities for the family

3. While many of the international purchases made last year were in Florida, California, Texas, and Arizona, international home buyers are purchasing in all parts of the United States. Data from realtor.com International shows that international consumers are searching in all parts of the country. Washington state, for example, was among the top areas searched. With a booming job market and technology sector, Washington is becoming increasingly popular with foreign buyers.

4. International home purchasing transactions are more likely to be all cash, with NAR reporting that over 55 percent of all transactions were cash-based last year.

5. The type of home available to purchase is also a motivator for foreign buyers, with approximately 61% investing in detached single-family homes, with others interested in condominiums, townhouses, commercial property and land.

The percentage of REALTORS® who reported working with international clients last year increased by 7 percent over the previous year. The opportunities are out there for those real estate professionals who are prepared to meet the needs of international buyers. Referrals and existing clients are among the top lead sources for international clients, followed by online listings.

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