Buying, owning and selling a home in the USA is straightforward for residents and non-residents given the lack of federal restrictions on the property market.
However, each state may have laws or taxes that those buying property in the USA should be aware of.
For overseas nationals investigating how to buy a house in the USA, remember that property ownership does not automatically entitle you to a green card, which allows the holder to live and work in the USA. Equally, when foreigners buy property in the USA they do not need to be residents but do have to register with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number if taking out a mortgage.
Overseas buyers will need to budget for the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act, a levy that requires sellers to withhold a refundable 15% of the sale price for the IRS, and consider whether buying through a company could be beneficial for Estate Tax purposes.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us and we will be happy to provide you with more information.