Best Florida Realtors & Real Estate Professionals

International Buyers Are Investing in Florida Real Estate

Excerpted in part from a Recent National Association of Realtors Report

September 27, 2008

    While many factors have contributed to the decline in home sales in Florida, an increase in foreign home buyers has help to decrease the amount of damage. according to a just-released research paper from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the 2008 “Profile of International Home Buying in Florida.”

    Foreign buyers recognize U.S. real estate as a desirable, profitable and secure investment. Also, the weak U.S. dollar has made U.S., and particularly Florida, real estate investments even more attractive.

    The National Association of Realtors, in cooperation with the Florida Association of Realtors, conducted a survey in August, 2008 of Florida Realtors asking about their experiences in working with international clients. The survey included over 4,800 responses from Sarasota real estate along with Bradenton, Tampa Bay and Fort Myers - Naples rounded out the top six areas.

    In summary, Florida real estate and, in particular the Southwestern Florida areas of Sarasota - Bradenton and Fort Myers - Naples, are benefitting from an influx of international home buyers. This bodes well for future Florida real estate activity. It suggests that even as U.S. buyers may still be uncertain whether or not it is time to step up to the plate and buy a home or condomium in Florida, international clients are showing more confidence in an early Florida real estate market recovery. It further suggests that those who delay buying their dream home in Florida may soon find that they have to pay considerably more for the same property in just a few months.

    The complete 23-page 2008 “Profile of International Home Buying in Florida” survey can be downloaded in PDF format from FAR’s Web site