Part 1: Buying a home in the USA as a foreigner
Part 1 in a series of articles that will help you successfully move to the USA.
In this three-part series, we will seek the advice of the immigration specialists from Grant Kaplan, as we look at three aspects of moving to the United States.
BUYING A HOME AS A FOREIGNER
Unlike many other countries, buying a home in the USA is not terribly difficult for foreigners. Although renting is still common for people who have recently moved and who want to decide where they would like to live, buying a house is not as difficult as you may have imagined.
WHAT YOU NEED TO BUY A HOUSE
You do not need a green card, a certain visa or US citizenship, but you will need an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. This number is given to foreigners in lieu of a Social Security Number, and the IRS will be able to provide this for you.
You will most likely need to mortgage your property, unless you are emigrating with an abundance of funding. In order to secure a mortgage, you will need to establish a good credit rating. You will need to open a US bank and credit card account and then make sure that all income tax is reported on your tax return.
It is wise to select a financial institution that has a reputation for having dealt with foreign buyers. They will be au fait with what differences there will be between US and foreign purchasers.
THE IMPORTANCE OF A REAL ESTATE AGENT
Make sure that you work with a trusted real estate agent when buying a house. The agent you select will most likely be very familiar with the town you have chosen to live in and will be able to best guide you towards a home that will suit your family and your new lifestyle abroad.
CHOOSING THE PERFECT HOME
Try to gather as much information as you can about the areas you are considering. Chat to people you know who live in the desired areas, or join Facebook groups that can offer some support and suggestions. Not only will this help you with your decision making, but it will give your estate agent a better idea of your desires.
The professionals at Grant Kaplan can help make the move to the US easier and less time consuming and stressful. They have years of experience dealing with people wanting to relocate to the States and will be able to help you each step of the way. Tel +1 561 347 8440 or email grant@gkaplanlaw.com
