International buyers are generally upscale when buying a residential property in the U.S. Based on information in the 2013 Profile of International Home Buying Activity, which covers the 12-month period ending March 2013, the mean price of reported international purchases was $354,193, compared to a nationwide mean price for all home sales of $228,383.

The international non-resident client is likely to be substantially wealthier than the median domestic buyer, may be looking for a trophy property, and is probably looking for a property to be purchased after having met essential living needs. The international residential client may be looking for a property in a specialized niche, for example, a larger property suitable for multi-generational living, or a property that establishes the individual’s presence and standing in the community.

What Does This Mean to REALTORS®?
There is a good chance of having a foreign buyer, whose expectations and needs may differ from those of U.S. buyers. The site http://www.realtor.org/global provides a substantial amount of information that may be of help to REALTORS® not experienced in dealing with international clients.

Notice: The information on this page may not be current. The archive is a collection of content previously published on one or more NAR web properties. Archive pages are not updated and may no longer be accurate. Users must independently verify the accuracy and currency of the information found here. The National Association of REALTORS® disclaims all liability for any loss or injury resulting from the use of the information or data found on this page.