Foreign Buyers Bought $56 Billion of U.S. Homes — and the Rebound Is Real

For the first time since 2017, foreign purchases of U.S. homes rose — and not by a little. From April 2024 through March 2025, international buyers purchased $56 billion of U.S. existing homes, a 33.2% jump over the prior year, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. They bought 78,100 properties — up 44%.

After years of decline, the cross-border buyer is back — and buying up-market. The median foreign-buyer purchase price hit a record $494,400, well above the $408,500 median for all U.S. buyers. Nearly half — 47% — paid all cash, versus 28% of buyers overall. This is a wealthier, more decisive buyer who moves fast and closes clean.

China is back on top

The top five countries of origin were China, Canada, Mexico, India, and the United Kingdom — together 47% of the $56 billion. China reclaimed the #1 spot at 15% of international purchases. Canada and Mexico followed at 8% each, India at 6%, the U.K. at 4% (back in the top five for the first time since 2021), with Brazil and Colombia each at 3%.

Florida, again

For at least the 15th straight year, Florida was the #1 destination for foreign buyers, taking 21% of all international purchases — followed by California at 15% (driven heavily by Chinese demand). Florida's combination of no state income tax, global air connectivity, and deep Latin American and European ties keeps it the single most important entry point for foreign capital into U.S. real estate.

What it means for practitioners

A rebound this sharp, this cash-heavy, and this concentrated in a handful of countries and one state is exactly the environment a structured cross-border network is built for. The buyers exist; the question is whether your market has a practitioner who can actually receive, structure, and close their transaction — FIRPTA, entity, title, and all. That capability is the moat, and it's why GCRID positions a qualified specialist in each corridor.