Foreign Buyers Zero In On U.S. Housing

Interest from abroad is ticking up again. International home shoppers are chasing sunshine, space, and potential, especially in the South and Southwest. And The Valley? It’s squarely on their radar.

Miami Leads While Other Cities Gain Ground

The Florida coast still dominates. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach pulls in the most foreign attention with 8.66 percent of international shopper traffic. But other big metros are gaining momentum.

• New York-Newark-Jersey City at 4.91 percent

• Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim gets 4.58 percent

• Orlando at 2.92 percent

• Dallas-Fort Worth hits 2.76 percent

• Houston reaches 2.59 percent

• Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater pulls 2.52 percent

• Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler lands 2.27 percent

• Chicago at 1.97 percent

• Riverside-San Bernardino hits 1.55 percent

Also Read: In-Depth Housing Market Update For The Greater Phoenix Area

Canada and Mexico Keep Arizona Buzzing

Arizona grabbed the number eight spot nationally for international home interest. The Valley’s trifecta of Phoenix, Mesa, and Chandler helped deliver 2.27 percent of all international search traffic across the U.S.

Foreign buyers came from:

• Canada with 23 percent

• Mexico with 6 percent

Buyers from Canada were mostly after vacation homes. About 49 percent bought for that reason alone. Another 22 percent wanted both vacation use and rental income. In contrast, 52 percent of Mexican buyers were aiming for a primary residence.

Other uses included:

• Residential rentals (Canada 8 percent, Mexico 18 percent)

• Student housing, vacation blends, or unspecified plans made up the rest

What Are They Buying?

International buyers in Arizona had a clear preference. They wanted space and separation. Detached single-family homes made up 69 percent of Canadian purchases and 73 percent from Mexico.

Also Read: Luxury Housing Market In Arizona & The Valley Summer Shift

The Valley’s Global Pull Keeps Climbing

In 2024, Arizona represented 5 percent of U.S. home purchases by foreign buyers. That put it just behind Florida, Texas, and California, and ahead of Georgia. In 2023, it was 4 percent. Back in 2022, the number hit 7 percent.

Here’s where they came from:

• 60 percent from North America

• 15 percent from Latin America or the Caribbean

• 13 percent from Asia or Oceania

• 13 percent from Europe

Sellers Benefit Too

Arizona didn’t just attract foreign buyers. It also ranked high in sales to international clients. The state accounted for 7 percent of U.S. homes sold to foreign nationals. That trailed Florida’s 27 percent, tied California and Texas at 12 percent, and outranked New York’s 3 percent.

Bigger Picture Shifts

The overall share of international home shoppers in the U.S. rose to 1.9 percent in early 2025. That’s an increase from 1.7 percent in late 2024 and well above the 1.3 percent in early 2020. America’s housing market is becoming more global again, and Arizona real estate is firmly in that spotlight.