Foreign buyers purchased $45.3 billion worth of U.S. existing homes from April 2025 through March 2026, according to the National Association of Realtors’ 2026 International Transactions in U.S. Residential Real Estate report released on July 29. This represents a 19.1% decrease in the dollar value and a 14% drop in the number of properties compared to the previous year.
The report surveyed members about transactions involving international clients who bought or sold U.S. residential property during this period and is intended to provide real estate professionals with information for serving their clients.
Lawrence Yun, chief economist at the National Association of Realtors, said, “The decline in foreign home buyer activity mirrors the decline in international visitors and tourists to the United States.” Yun also said, “Even a slightly weaker U.S. dollar over the past year, which provides more purchasing power for foreigners, did not induce more activity.”
Yun said that buyers from Canada and Mexico accounted for most housing units purchased by foreign nationals; however, Chinese buyers spent more overall because they tended to buy higher-priced homes—especially in California. “Florida, with its beaches and favorable winter climate, continues to be the top state to draw foreign buyers,” Yun said.
International buyers acquired 67,100 properties—the second-lowest level since tracking began in 2009—with a median purchase price of $465,000. Of these purchases, recent immigrants or visa holders residing in the United States bought 37,600 homes (56%) totaling $21.8 billion; those living abroad bought 29,500 homes (44%) totaling $23.5 billion.
Canada was identified as this year’s top country of origin for foreign purchasers at 16%, followed by Mexico at 14%, China at 11%, India at 9%, and the United Kingdom at 4%. Chinese nationals remained responsible for the largest share by dollar volume ($7.6 billion), reflecting an average purchase price near $1 million per home.
Among all foreign purchases: nearly half (48%) were made entirely with cash compared to just over one-quarter among all existing-home buyers; Florida attracted the highest share (20%), followed by California (19%), Texas (12%), New Jersey (4%), and Georgia (4%).
The National Association of Realtors functions as a leading trade association representing residential and commercial real estate professionals across approximately 1,200 local boards and associations nationwide; it supports diversity and inclusion within its ranks while working to empower members’ rights regarding real property ownership, according to its official website.