Buying an apartment in the USA as a foreigner in 2026
A foreigner can buy a flat in the US almost without restrictions, but it gives neither a visa nor a green card. How the deal works, what taxes an owner pays and why the ownership structure is decided before the contract.
In short
- Foreigners can buy: there is no federal ban, but some states restrict purchases by citizens of certain countries, including Russia.
- The deal usually takes 30-60 days from contract to recording.
- No visa or green card comes with buying a home.
- Property tax runs from a fraction of a percent to 2% of assessed value a year.
- The main risk: US estate tax for a foreign owner if the purchase structure was not planned before the deal.
In detail
The US is the world's largest housing market, and a foreigner can buy a flat here almost the same way an American does. According to the US Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the median price of a new house in August 2026 was $393,700. But the purchase gives neither a visa nor a green card, and taxes for a foreign owner are stricter than for a local one. A detailed look at the market and transaction support is on the page property in the USA; here are short answers to the main questions.
Can a foreigner buy an apartment in the USA
Yes. There is no federal ban on foreigners buying homes. States set their own rules: in Florida, for example, a law in force since July 2023 restricts purchases of farmland and property near military sites and critical infrastructure by citizens of certain countries, including Russia. So the address is checked against state rules before you choose a flat.
For Russian citizens the path of the money matters separately: the bank and the independent settlement agent check the source of funds, usually with enhanced checks. It is best to collect income documents before you fall for a specific flat.
Does buying an apartment give a visa or a green card
No. A US home is an asset, not an immigration basis. A green card through investment is only granted for investing in a business that creates jobs, from $800,000, and a passive flat purchase does not qualify. More on the page US green card through investment.
How to buy an apartment in the USA: step by step
- Ownership structure. Before the deal, decide who buys: you personally, a company or a trust. Changing it after the purchase is expensive.
- Offer and contract with inspection and financing conditions.
- Deposit with an independent agent who handles the settlement.
- Title check and title insurance.
- Inspection, appraisal and a mortgage if needed.
- Closing and recording of title with the county.
Usually 30-60 days pass from contract to closing, closer to the upper end with a mortgage. A US deal resembles a well-rehearsed play: everyone has a role, and the curtain does not rise until the last document arrives.
What taxes a foreign apartment owner pays in the USA
| Situation | Tax |
|---|---|
| Ownership | county and state property tax, from a fraction of a percent to 2% of assessed value a year |
| Renting out | 30% of gross rent or, by election, tax on the scale on net income after expenses and depreciation |
| Sale | the buyer withholds 15% of the price towards the foreign seller's tax |
| Inheritance | a non-resident with US assets over $60,000 files an estate tax return |
There is no withholding on sale if the price is no more than $300,000 and the buyer intends to live in the flat. To file returns and reclaim excess withholding, a foreigner needs an individual taxpayer identification number.
What the purchase costs beyond the price of the flat
- Closing costs - title insurance, the settlement agent's services, county recording.
- Monthly fees to the homeowners' association in apartment buildings.
- Property tax - every year, at a rate set by the county and state.
- Home insurance, noticeably more expensive in Florida and on the coast because of hurricanes.
A foreigner with no US credit history gets a mortgage less often and usually with a large down payment, so most foreign buyers pay for the flat in full.
The 15% withholding and estate tax are settled before the contract
The law does not stop you from buying a flat in the US on your own. But mistakes cost more than closing costs: a flat in your own name with no estate tax planning, an address where the state restricts purchases by Russian citizens, a transfer the bank cannot verify and building rules that ban renting out. We decide who should buy, check state restrictions and building rules, prepare source of funds documents and handle the deal up to recording. We guarantee professional work and a transparent process, and in most cases a result on the first application.
The cost of support depends on the state, the flat's price and the ownership structure; our manager in the chat will calculate it.
Risks when buying an apartment in the USA
- Estate tax. Without a planned structure, a US flat goes entirely into a non-resident's estate.
- State restrictions. You cannot buy everywhere the federal law allows.
- Money without documents. A transfer the bank cannot verify stops the deal.
- Building rules. The homeowners' association may ban short-term rentals and limit letting.
How we help
The law does not stop you from filing on your own. But mistakes in the structure and the money trail cost more than the taxes. We decide who should buy, find the flat, check state restrictions and handle the deal up to the recording of title.
Property in the USA
Ownership structure, selection, title checks and transaction support.
Learn more →Company in the USA
A company to hold property and rent it out.
Learn more →Green card through investment
If the goal is moving, it takes a separate route: investing from $800,000 in a business.
Learn more →Taxes in detail are on the page taxes in the USA, and all programmes in the overview USA.
FAQ
Can a foreigner buy an apartment in the USA?
Does buying an apartment in the USA give a visa or a green card?
How long does buying an apartment in the USA take?
What taxes does a foreigner pay on a US apartment?
Can a Russian buy an apartment in the USA in 2026?
Do you need a tax number to buy an apartment in the USA?
Don’t want to figure this out alone?
We handle the whole process end to end: we check your documents, match a program to your situation and give you honest timelines and costs. Ask your question in the chat: the free consultation starts right here. Legal representation before authorities and courts is handled by Murblz specialists together with locally licensed partners.
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