International Buyers Now Spending More Money on Fewer Homes in U.S.

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According to the National Association of Realtors 2015 Profile of Home Buying Activity of International Clients Report, while total unit sales from international home buyers decreased from last year, total sales dollar volume increased 13 percent.

For the period of April 2014 through March 2015, total international sales were estimated at $104 billion, compared to the previous year's estimate of $92.2 billion. This represents 8 percent of the total existing-home sales dollar volume.

"In 2014, sales transaction to buyers outside of the U.S. dropped 10 percent, possibly due to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar in relation to international currencies and weakening foreign economies," said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. "However, the amount of money spent has increased; this means international purchasers in the U.S. have become an upscale group of buyers, spending more money on fewer homes."

In 2014, five countries accounted for 51 percent of all purchases by international buyers: China, Canada, Mexico, India and the United Kingdom. For the first time, buyers from China exceeded all other countries in terms of units purchased and dollar volume, purchasing an estimated $28.6 billion worth of property. Buyers from Canada followed with $11.2 billion in purchases, followed by India with $7.9 billion, Mexico with $4.9 billion and the U.K. with $3.8 billion.

International buyers tend to purchase more expensive properties with the average purchase price being $499,600, compared to the overall U.S. average house price of $255,600. Chinese buyers typically purchased the most expensive properties, at an average price of $831,800.

Thirty-five percent of Realtors reported working with an international client in 2014, up from 28 percent in 2013. About 46 percent of reported international transactions were intended for primary residences, 20 percent for residential rentals, and 26 percent for investment rentals, vacation homes or both. Global buyers also purchased properties for commercial rentals and as residences for children studying in U.S. educational institutions. Indian buyers were the most likely to purchase a primary residence (79 percent), while Canadian buyers were most likely to purchase property as a vacation home (47 percent).

While international buyer clients purchased property across the nation, four states accounted for half of all international sales:  Florida, California, Texas and Arizona. Florida remains the top destination for international buyers, claiming a 21 percent share of all foreign purchases; California comes in second with a 16 percent share, Texas with 8 percent and Arizona with 5 percent.  Chinese buyers tended to gravitate towards the West Coast, which provides ample education, business and trade opportunities, while Canadians seeking winter vacation opportunities focused on the Southwest and Florida.

The majority of international purchases (55 percent) were made with all-cash, compared to about 25 percent of all purchases made by domestic buyers. Mortgage financing tends to be an issue for non-resident international clients because of a lack of a U.S. based credit history or Social Security number, difficulties in documenting mortgage requirements, and financial profiles that can be different from those normally submitted to financial institutions by domestic residents.