International buyers can legally purchase residential real estate in any US state without citizenship or a green card. The practical challenges are financing and credit history rather than legal restrictions. Most US lenders require a two-year employment history and established US credit profile to approve a conventional mortgage. Without those, foreign national loan programs are available but demand larger down payments of 25 to 40% and carry interest rates 0.5 to 1.5 percentage points above standard rates. Portfolio lenders and international banks with US opérations are often the best starting point.
Choosing where to buy as a newcomer
Your choice of city should account for visa status, commute to employer, school quality if you have children, and the size of the existing expat community in your home country. Major metros with strong international buyer activity include Miami, Los Angeles, New York, Houston, and Seattle. Miami draws heavily from Latin American buyers, with 40% of residential sales in some ZIP codes going to international purchasers. Houston attracts energy sector professionals from across the Middle East and Asia. Each market has its own price range, property tax structure, and HOA norms that affect total cost of ownership.
Building credit and the path to better financing
If you plan to stay in the US long-term, begin building your credit profile immediately. Open a secured credit card, then an unsecured card, and keep utilization below 30%. Pay every bill on time. After 12 to 24 months of consistent payment history, your FICO score should be strong enough to qualify for conventional mortgage programs at compétitive rates. Renting for the first one to two years also gives you time to learn neighborhoods before committing to a purchase, which helps avoid the costly mistake of buying in the wrong area before you understand where you actually want to live.
