Many Brazilians think buying a home in Miami is a bureaucratic, distant process. In practice, the United States allows foreigners to buy real estate freely — with no citizenship, green card, or in-country residency required. What changes compared to a purchase by an American are a few details around paperwork, taxes, and financing. This guide summarizes the essentials.
1. Define your goal before you start looking
It all starts with a clear goal: primary residence, vacation home, rental income, or growing your wealth in dollars. Each goal points to a different type of property and area — a compact Brickell apartment makes sense for rental income, while a larger home in Coral Gables better suits those planning to live there. Defining this with your broker avoids wasted showings and poorly calibrated offers.
2. Your tax number: ITIN
To file taxes on your U.S. property, you’ll need an American tax identification number, the ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number). It’s requested from the IRS, and the process can be handled with the help of an accountant. Having your ITIN sorted from the start makes the purchase, annual filing, and any future sale easier.
3. Build your team
A safe purchase involves three professionals: a local broker who knows the market, a real estate attorney to review contracts and handle the closing, and an accountant for the tax side. Doing all of this with service in Portuguese eliminates translation noise in documents involving large sums — and that’s exactly the guidance I offer my clients.
4. Cash or financed?
Foreigners can finance U.S. real estate through specific loan programs, the foreign national loans. Terms are usually different from those offered to residents — down payment and documentation, for example, follow different rules. It’s worth comparing scenarios carefully before deciding. Read the complete guide to financing for foreigners.
5. From offer to closing
The typical roadmap is: purchase offer, signed contract, property inspection, verification of paperwork and title (title search), and finally the closing — the deed transfer. At closing there are closing costs beyond the property price, so your financial planning should include them from the start.
6. After the purchase: recurring costs
Once purchased, the annual property tax, condo fees (or HOA, for houses), and insurance enter your budget. Understanding these figures before signing avoids surprises — always ask for a complete estimate. See what Brazilians need to know about taxes.