Foreign homebuyers are increasing their presence in Miami, even as concerns around the impact of the Trump administration's tariffs on the U.S. economy grow and Florida experiences a deep market correction.

Buyers from outside the United States represented nearly half (49 percent) of all buyers of new construction in the Miami metropolitan area in the 18 months ending June 2025, according to a recent report by Miami Realtors. A vast majority of these buyers (86 percent) came from Latin American countries.

"The demand from Colombia, Mexico, and Argentina isn't slowing down, it's accelerating," real estate broker Ryan Serhant, founder and CEO of Serhant, said in the report.

This increase may have "something to do with global uncertainty, in particular in South America, where there is high inflation and political turmoil," Yuval Golan, founder and CEO of Waltz, told Newsweek. "To combat this, Latin Americans may be seeking to preserve their wealth in USD through U.S. real estate."

Why Are So Many Foreigners Buying New Homes in Miami?

According to Golan, a combination of convenience and financial incentives is pushing internationals toward buying new builds in the Magic City.

"New development buildings often offer amenities like pools, gyms, dog parks, and may even have front doormen. A new build typically has fewer maintenance issues, making it easier to manage from abroad than older inventory," he said.

This is particularly true considering the current headwinds hitting the Florida condo market. The state, especially its southwest region, has struggled with a sudden rise in condo inventory in recent months following the implementation of new building safety regulations, threatening higher fees for condo associations and owners.

Under the new rules, introduced after the Surfside collapse of June 2021, condo associations in Florida are required to conduct regular inspections on aging buildings and fully fund future repairs. These requirements make newly built condos a safer investment for international buyers than many older condos in poor condition in the city.

Another reason making new builds so appealing to international buyers, Golan said, is that some builders are offering hefty discounts to those willing to invest in the condo project before it's completely built. This kind of incentive has become more common among Florida developers in recent months, as sales have slumped and inventory has grown.

The Trump administration's policies are also making investing in the American real estate market more interesting for international buyers.

"This administration encourages real estate investment with tax incentives such as the Big Beautiful Bill, which offers bonus depreciation on real estate, among other benefits," Golan said. "There are also programs that encourage wealthy individuals around the world to invest in America to obtain a visa."

How the So-Called 'Capital of Latin America' Is Keeping Its Nickname

Miami already has the largest proportion of Hispanic and Latin American residents in the U.S., accounting for about 70 percent of its population. It's no surprise, then, that the city attracts many real estate investors from Latin America.

"For many people living in Latin America, Miami is the bridge between their home country and the United States, where there are many cultural ties. This gives buyers from these places a sense of familiarity with their home country cuisine found in the city, and they can hear their language spoken," Golan said.

"It builds trust because these buyers could very well have relatives who live in the U.S. or, at the very least, be able to speak their native language with real estate agents, contractors, property managers, lenders, and other people they would need to interact with to buy a property."

But there is more than just familiarity and an established community.

"Miami is a desirable location for a variety of reasons. It has no state income tax, and many businesses are moving to Miami, bringing jobs for new residents who need housing. Miami is also a tourist destination, which brings money into the economy, and with Airbnb becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to hotels, people may buy condos to rent to these tourists," Golan said.

International buyers—and those from Latin America, specifically—also seem to believe in the stability of the U.S. economy and the country's housing market "over long-term horizons," Golan said.

"The USD has been one of the globally recognized currencies and is more stable than currencies in many parts of the world. In addition, U.S. real estate has shown strong performance over the last half century, so this, combined with preserving foreign-earned money in U.S. currency in the form of an appreciating asset, is appealing."