Investment property: USA
The USA is the largest and most liquid real estate market in the world, with deep data, a mature rental sector and clear rules of the game.
Foreigners can buy residential and commercial property with virtually no federal restrictions (some states limit farmland ownership). One thing to understand from the start: buying property grants no visa and no green card. The EB-5 investor program requires investment in job-creating business projects, not a passive home purchase. For a non-resident, the real questions are not about market access but about structure: US estate tax exposure for foreign owners, FIRPTA withholding on sale, and the choice between buying personally or through an LLC.
We start with the structure: before the transaction we decide who the buyer is - an individual, an LLC or a trust - because changing this after the purchase is expensive. Then comes property selection around your goal, title verification through a title company, transaction support, with Murblz specialists working out the taxes before the purchase. If you have immigration plans, we keep the two tracks honestly separate: real estate is an asset, and visa matters are handled with separate tools.
Taxes for a foreign owner of US property
| What happens | Tax |
|---|---|
| Ownership | county and state property tax, usually from a fraction of a percent to 2% of assessed value a year |
| Renting out | 30% of gross rent or, by election, tax on a scale on net income after expenses and depreciation |
| Sale | the buyer withholds 15% of the price toward the foreign seller's tax |
| Inheritance | a non-resident with more than $60,000 of US assets files an estate tax return, and US real estate counts |
There is no withholding on a sale if the price is $300,000 or less and the buyer plans to live in the home at least half the time it is used in the first two years. To file returns and reclaim excess withholding, a foreigner needs an individual taxpayer identification number. So the question of whose name to buy in, your own, a company's or a trust's, is settled before the deal: changing the structure later is expensive.
We will calculate online the full purchase cost for your budget: taxes, fees and transaction costs.
How the purchase works: the steps
- An offer and a contract with inspection and financing conditions.
- A deposit with an independent escrow agent who handles the settlement.
- A title search and title insurance.
- A home inspection, appraisal and, if needed, a mortgage.
- Closing and recording the title with the county, usually 30-60 days from contract.
Restrictions on buyers from certain countries
There is no federal ban on foreigners buying homes, but states set their own rules. For example, since July 2023 Florida law restricts purchases of farmland and property near military sites and critical infrastructure by people from several countries, including Russia. We check such restrictions before choosing a property.
What we do
- Property shortlist for your investment goal
- Legal due diligence on the property
- End-to-end transaction support
- Ownership structuring (company, trust)
- Property management and letting
See also
Company formation · Business account · Personal account · All country programs
FAQ
Can a foreigner buy property in the USA?
Does buying US property grant a green card or visa?
Where do we start?
What taxes does a foreigner pay on US property?
Does a foreigner pay estate tax on a US home?
How long does buying property in the US take?
Can you avoid the 15% withholding when selling a US home?
Does a foreigner need a US tax number?
Which US state is right for a rental property?
We compare states and cities by yield and tax, shortlist a property, structure the purchase in your name or through a company and open a US account. Every country is in the searchable catalogue.
The Murblz consultant replies straight away in the chat on this page. Describe your situation and we will work it out together.
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