Indians among top foreign homebuyers in US, buys 4,700 homes in America – Investing Abroad News

A Reddit post sparked a discussion among members about the reasons why H-1B non-immigrants in the US should not buy a home in America. The H-1B visas are granted to highly skilled foreign workers employed by US firms who cannot find American workers who match their job profile.

One of the primary reasons against buying US homes by H-1B holders was the dwindling state of the technology sector in America.

But, reality seems to be different as Indians were among the top 5 countries in terms of percentage share of foreign home purchases, number of homes purchased in the United States by Indians, and dollar volume.

In 2024-25, Indians spent $2.2 billion in buying 4,700 homes in the US, representing 6% of the total foreign purchases. In 2024, 10% of the total homes purchased by foreigners were by Indians.

According to the National Association of Realtors 2025 International Transactions in U.S. Residential Real Estate report, foreign purchasers bought $56 billion worth of existing properties in the United States between April 2024 and March 2025.

What is more striking is that this is a 33.2% increase from the previous 12-month period.

International buyers purchased 78,100 properties, up 44% from the prior year and the first year-over-year increase since 2017. The median purchase price for foreign buyers of $494,400 was a record high.

For at least 15 years, Florida has continued to be the most popular place for international homebuyers.

Immigrants living in US Vs Living Abroad

The report also highlights the real estate buying pattern among foreigners in terms of immigrants living in US and those who reside abroad.

Foreign buyers who resided in the U.S. as recent immigrants or who were holding visas that allowed them to live in the U.S. purchased 43,700 homes (56% of all foreign purchases) with a total dollar volume of $26.9 billion.

Foreign buyers who lived abroad purchased 34,400 homes (44% of all foreign purchases) with a total dollar volume of $29.1 billion.

In 2024-25, both US immigrants and foreigners living abroad experienced a significant increase in the purchase of US homes compared to 2023-24.

Can an Indian citizen buy property in the USA?

Yes. Anyone can buy property in the U.S., regardless of their nationality or immigration status. International real estate buyers can get a U.S. mortgage even without a U.S. credit history.

However, owning property in the U.S. does not grant immigration status or the right to live there. Those on work visas, such as H-1B foreign workers or F-1 student visa, can still buy and need to return to their home country after purchasing. They are allowed to rent their property in the U.S.

Ohio lawmakers are debating a bill that could restrict US green card holders and foreign nationals from purchasing land in significant Ohio areas. The law, in line with Florida and Texas initiatives, is a comprehensive state-level effort to restrict foreign investment in U.S. real estate.