International Homebuyers Pump More than $10 Billion into Texas Real Estate

International homebuyers pumped more than $10 billion into the Texas economy from April 2015 to March 2016, according to the 2016 Texas International Homebuyers report. This amounted to more than 21,000 Texas homes purchased by international buyers, compared to the previous year’s 16,720 Texas homes for a total of $8.32 billion. 

Of those international buyers, 36 percent were from Latin America (including Mexico), 34 percent were from Asia/Oceana (including China and India), 12 percent were from Europe, eight percent were from Africa, and four percent were from Canada.

Of the states, Texas had the third highest percent of international homebuyers with 10 percent. Florida had 22 percent, and California had 15 percent. Texas had the highest percentage of homebuyers from India (one in five Indian homebuyers purchased in Texas) and from Mexico (more than one in three Mexican homebuyers purchased in Texas.)

“Over the last several years, Texas has become increasingly popular among international homebuyers from all parts of the globe for relocations, investment properties, and vacation homes,” said Texas Association of REALTORS® Chairman Leslie Rouda Smith. “In addition to our state’s strong economy and job growth, Texas’s friendly and welcoming culture is part of what make our state a great place to live, work, and do business.”

Texas also housed nine percent of those who immigrated to the United States in 2014. “Texas is now home to the second-largest foreign-born population size in the nation and has the seventh-highest percentage of foreign-born residents compared to statewide population,” said Smith.

Among the top 50 metro areas in the U.S. for immigration, Houston was fifth, Dallas-Fort Worth was eighth, Austin-Round Rock was 26^th, San Antonio-New Braunfels was 28^th, El Paso was 32nd, and McAllen was 44^th.  

International buyers accounted for seven percent of all U.S. home sales.