Foreign homebuyers are making a strong comeback in the U.S. real estate market, according to the National Association of Realtors’ latest report. Between April 2024 and March 2025, international buyers acquired 78,100 existing homes—a 44% jump from the previous year and the first annual increase since 2017. The total value of these purchases reached $56 billion, marking a 33.2% year-over-year rise.
The median purchase price hit a record $494,400, up 4.1% from the previous period. Nearly half of all foreign buyers—47%—paid in cash, a significantly higher share than the 28% seen among all buyers. This trend reflects a strong preference for high-end properties and a strategic move to bypass elevated mortgage rates.
Of the total transactions, 56% were made by foreign nationals residing in the U.S., while 44% came from buyers living abroad. Chinese buyers led the pack, purchasing 11,700 homes worth $13.7 billion. Canadians followed with 10,900 properties totaling $6.2 billion, while buyers from Mexico, India, and the UK rounded out the top five.
Florida remained the most popular destination, accounting for 21% of all foreign purchases. California came next with 15%, followed by Texas, New York, and Arizona. The report attributes this surge to renewed global confidence in U.S. real estate, driven by economic recovery and the country’s strong protection of private property rights.
Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at NAR, noted that Florida’s increased housing inventory helped maintain its top spot for the 15th consecutive year. He also emphasized that foreign buyers are increasingly targeting upper-end homes and paying cash to navigate high interest rates.
