There are no federal restrictions on foreigners buying property, and non-residents can hold freehold regardless of visa status. However, a growing number of states limit certain foreign buyers near military sites or farmland, and owning property grants no visa or residency rights.
Before you buy in United States, always:
General guidance only — rules change; confirm the current position with a qualified local lawyer.
Our free ownership checker and the Overseas Property Playbook walk through how foreign ownership works step by step — the questions to ask and the traps to sidestep.
There is no national stamp duty; buyer closing costs typically run 2-5% (title insurance, escrow, recording and any lender fees), with transfer taxes varying by state and often paid by the seller. Non-residents can buy freehold regardless of visa, and a cash purchase can close in about a month.
Florida for sunshine and no state income tax, Arizona for warm dry desert living, the Carolinas for a gentler coast-and-mountains mix, and Texas for space and value; Sunbelt retiree communities are especially popular.
US healthcare is world-class but expensive, and Medicare is not automatic for newcomers — you generally need five years' residency plus a work history or to buy in — so most British retirees rely on costly private or ACA-marketplace insurance. Budgeting for premiums is one of the biggest considerations of a US move. Safety varies greatly by city and neighbourhood, so research locally; English is native and driving is on the right, making daily life easy for Britons, though owning a home grants no visa or right to stay.
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