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Rainer
21,291
Grace Hanamoto
Intero Real Estate - Sunnyvale, CA
Quality, Knowledge, Professionalism, Experience

Hi Dorie:

I don't know if the percentage is that high, but I can tell you that a large percentage of international buyers do seem to be "all cash" purchases here in California.  Perhaps the availability of financing has something to do with it, but at least three of my buyers who were coming to this country from other parts of the world were using money that was purposely set aside by family members to purchase homes in California.

Again, I can only speak from my personal experience, but my international buyers absolutely purchased with cash only.

May 10, 2016 07:30 AM
Rainmaker
1,239,901
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

Only high end since they do not have US credit hisotry. Neither it makes tax sense.......

These international buyers can be those with other residences overseas. They may have US citizenship or green cards.

Is Tiger Woods not international ? He lives in Dubai most of the time.

May 10, 2016 07:28 AM
Rainmaker
989,652
Jennifer Mackay
Counts Real Estate Group, Inc. - Panama City, FL
Your Bay County Florida Realtor 850.774.6582

Not sure of the numbers as I've never tracked that stat

May 10, 2016 09:15 PM
Rainmaker
5,005,614
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

It is true that 55% of International buyers pay for a home in cash! They don't want to go through the process of obtaining a mortgage. I just went through this with an international buyer and this time he didn''t want to pay cash so went through the process of obtaining a mortgage.. it got done but was fraught with conditions!

May 10, 2016 09:09 PM
Ambassador
3,727,873
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Where is Conrad Allen when you need him?

May 10, 2016 02:03 PM
Rainmaker
1,771,867
Noah Seidenberg
Coldwell Banker - Evanston, IL
Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917

I have had international buyers pay cash and then rent out the property. I do not know about the percentages.

May 10, 2016 12:47 PM
Ambassador
6,393,154
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Makes sense, I would have thought the number to be a bit higher though.

May 10, 2016 12:22 PM
Rainmaker
2,220,323
Anthony Acosta - ALLATLANTAcondos.com
Harry Norman, REALTORS® - Atlanta, GA
Associate Broker

I would have to research and find out Dorie Dillard 

May 10, 2016 12:11 PM
Ambassador
1,452,819
Susan Emo
Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage - Kingston, ON
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area

Practically all of mine do and that includes my US buyers

May 10, 2016 07:32 AM
Rainmaker
2,781,163
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

I can only speak of the ones I know of which is not often. Borrowed money dominates to be sure

May 10, 2016 07:12 AM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

I don't know.

May 29, 2017 05:41 AM
Rainmaker
1,502,998
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

I don't know the stats, so I can't speak with authority.

May 11, 2016 03:33 AM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

that number sounds reasonable.....

May 11, 2016 12:30 AM
Rainmaker
4,572,117
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

I would believe that number is higher.   

May 10, 2016 11:53 PM
Rainmaker
5,216,398
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

55% sounds plausible, maybe even a bit low!

May 10, 2016 11:04 PM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

It wouldn't surprise me, as many foreigners without tax returns and credit in the USA can't qualify for a mortgage.

May 10, 2016 10:46 PM
Rainmaker
7,836,129
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

An interesting figure.

May 10, 2016 10:20 PM
Rainmaker
823,579
Susan Laxson CRS
Palm Properties - La Quinta, CA
Realtor in San Diego, CA & Naples, FL

Yes, or even higher percentage. Most countries don't have mortgage loans, or they are outrageously expensive so they are used to paying cash or a sizable down payment.

May 10, 2016 10:17 PM
Rainmaker
3,416,038
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

I am seeing near 9 out of 10 paying in cash here in NH. 

May 10, 2016 10:13 PM
Rainmaker
3,071,489
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

Many do - but I don't know the percentage

May 10, 2016 10:01 PM
Rainer
171,073
Richard L. Sanderson
Richard L. Sanderson Consulting - Kalama, WA
helping improve local property tax systems

I think Grace Morioka has the most correct answer. International buyers most likely assume that financing in another country where they have no credit history will be a problem. My wife and I bought a vacation home in Chile in 2005 and didn't even consider financing it at a Chilean bank. 

May 10, 2016 05:46 PM
Rainmaker
4,319,419
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Dorie Dillard no such stats available - to best of my knowledge this seems true.

May 10, 2016 04:49 PM
Rainmaker
1,622,432
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

Almost all of my international buyers paid in cash and closed fast. 

May 10, 2016 04:46 PM
Ambassador
3,164,269
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I would have no idea as none have been buyers in my market

May 10, 2016 02:58 PM
Rainmaker
3,988,007
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

The ones I have dealt with had nice size downpayments but finance part of the sales price. 

May 10, 2016 02:46 PM
Rainmaker
2,707,721
Lisa Von Domek
Lisa Von Domek Team - Dallas, TX
....Experience Isn't Expensive.... It's Priceless!

I don't know, but I wouldn't be surprised if it is that or even higher!

May 10, 2016 02:31 PM
Rainmaker
2,362,942
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

Most of my interenational buyers have paid cash so you are probably onto something.

May 10, 2016 02:17 PM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Dorie,

I had not heard that, A

May 10, 2016 02:00 PM
Rainmaker
2,443,250
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

I have not working with any in our market.  Sorry I couldn't help you.

May 10, 2016 01:23 PM
Rainer
321,564
Melissa Jackson REALTOR
Trinity Premier Properties - Azle, TX
Helping You Make The Right Move

I bet that number is good.  

May 10, 2016 11:54 AM
Rainmaker
3,986,258
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

I would agree

May 10, 2016 11:41 AM
Rainmaker
1,525,616
Sybil Campbell
Fernandina Beach, FL
Referral Agent Amelia Island Florida

I wouldn't know, but if so bring them on, I love cash buyers.

May 10, 2016 10:46 AM
Ambassador
2,178,553
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

I wouldn't be surprised.

May 10, 2016 10:34 AM
Rainmaker
763,883
Tony Lewis
Summit Real Estate Group - Valencia, CA
Summit Real Estate Group Valencia & Aliso Viejo

Stastics don't lie but I've had about 100 international buyers and maybe 1 or 2 of them were all cash, probably not though.

May 10, 2016 09:23 AM
Rainmaker
2,810,149
Dick Greenberg
New Paradigm Partners LLC - Fort Collins, CO
Northern Colorado Residential Real Estate

Hi Dorie - I think we have only had a couple over the years who have arranged financing - all the rest have been cash.

May 10, 2016 09:20 AM
Rainmaker
1,725,996
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

I have seen this and perhaps even higher. Just had a Canadian buyer jilted by a Canadian bank in purchasing a villa here in Englewood. It is no wonder!

May 10, 2016 08:13 AM
Rainer
225,526
Bob Betel
Allstar Home Mortgage, Inc. - Sweetwater, TN
President, Allstar Home Mortgage, Inc

I don't really know, but it would not surprise me.

May 10, 2016 08:11 AM
Rainmaker
1,157,785
FN LN
Toronto, ON

It will depend on how you calculate your statistics.

May 10, 2016 07:59 AM
Rainmaker
1,683,912
Larry Johnston
Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC - Elkhart, IN
Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN

I wouldn't be surprised.

May 10, 2016 07:53 AM
Rainmaker
1,712,676
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

That or probably a greater percentage becasue of the inability for many to obtain loans. it has been thatw ay since 2006.

May 10, 2016 07:47 AM
Ambassador
2,684,009
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

     That is probably a correct figure for Miami (or it was; that market is stalling).  It's also true for Sarasota County, Florida where prices are going through the roof because of the cash Buyers.

May 10, 2016 07:31 AM