Buy or invest in Houston from anywhere in the world

Yes. You don't need U.S. citizenship, residency or a visa to buy. One exception: Texas SB 17 (effective September 1, 2025) restricts purchases by certain people, companies and governments connected to designated countries (at passage, China, Iran, North Korea and Russia), with exceptions such as U.S. citizens, permanent residents and some homesteads. Mexico was not on that list. If you're unsure, ask a Texas real estate attorney.

Many buyers pay cash. Others use foreign national loans, which usually require a larger down payment (often 25% to 40%), a passport and bank statements, and sometimes no U.S. credit history. Rates and terms vary by lender.

Texas closings are funded in U.S. dollars, wired to the title company. Most crypto buyers convert to dollars through a regulated exchange or payment processor before closing; a few sellers accept crypto through a specialized escrow. Expect to document the source of funds for anti-money-laundering rules. The IRS treats crypto as property, so converting it can be taxable in the U.S., and Mexico's SAT may tax it too. Talk to tax advisors in both countries first.

Many investors buy through a Texas or Delaware LLC for liability protection and privacy. A foreign-owned single-member LLC needs an EIN and generally files IRS Form 5472 each year. Since March 1, 2026, FinCEN's Residential Real Estate Rule requires the closing agent to report most all-cash residential purchases by LLCs and trusts, including the people who own them. Some lenders limit loans to LLCs. Your attorney and CPA should set this up.

Texas has no state property tax; local cities, counties, school districts and MUDs set rates, and around Houston the total often runs about 2% to 3% of appraised value a year. The homestead exemption ($140,000 off school taxes) is only for a home that is your main residence, so most foreign investors pay the full rate. Many neighborhoods have a mandatory HOA with yearly dues and rules; before closing you can get the HOA resale certificate showing dues, special assessments and violations. I include taxes, HOA, insurance and any MUD or PID in your numbers.

Property taxes in the Houston area often run about 2% to 3% of value per year, depending on the city, school district and MUD. Rental income is taxed in the U.S.; you'll need an ITIN, and nonresidents face 30% withholding on gross rent unless they elect to be taxed on net income. The U.S. and Mexico have a tax treaty. A cross-border CPA is essential.

FIRPTA (Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act) applies when a foreign person sells U.S. real estate. The buyer generally must withhold 15% of the sale price and send it to the IRS. If the buyer will live in the home and the price is $300,000 or less, there is no withholding; from $300,000 to $1 million it is 10%. The seller can ask the IRS for a withholding certificate (Form 8288-B) to withhold only the tax actually owed, and files a U.S. return to get back any excess. The withholding is a prepayment, not the final tax.

Nonresidents have a much smaller U.S. estate tax exemption ($60,000) than U.S. citizens. How you hold the property (personally, through an LLC or a trust) matters; plan it with an attorney.

Buying property does not give you a visa or residency. Mexican citizens may qualify for an E-2 treaty investor visa, but that requires an active business, and passive real estate usually doesn't qualify. Speak with an immigration attorney.

Criminals send fake wiring instructions. Always confirm instructions by phone with the title company at a number you know, before sending money.