Texas appears to be a popular destination for visa holders - immigrants who are in the United States legally but who remain citizens (or subjects) of other countries. These people are buying up homes in Texas, and the number of homes being sold to visa-holders, despite the current rise in home prices, is increasing. The largest source of these non-citizen buyers is Mexico, but there are more from other parts of the world, some of whom aren't particularly friendly to the United States.
More international buyers – and those in the U.S. on visas, purchased more homes in Texas last year than the previous year.
International buyers bought about 7,780 Texas homes from April 2025 to March 2026, up from 7,500 the year before, according to the 2026 Texas International Residential Transactions Report released by Texas REALTORS®.
The majority, 62%, were living in the U.S. on visas or as “recent immigrants,” according to the report.
Note that this is legal. There's no law in Texas (or anywhere else that I'm aware of) that prevents a person in the United States legally, under a visa, from purchasing a home, if their visa allows them to be in the United States for an extended period.
The source of some of these people, though that may be a matter for some concern.
The majority of foreign buyers, 35%, were Mexican nationals – an increase from 30% the previous year. The next greatest number who purchased residential property in Texas were Indian (14%), followed by Chinese (9%), Nigerian (5%), and British (5%) nationals.
More Indians purchased homes in Texas last year than previous years as the Trump administration began to crack down on visa fraud. Gov. Greg Abbott also issued directives related to H-1B visa fraud. Texas’ Congressional delegation has also called for an investigation into H-1B visa holders in Texas.
The greatest number of H-1B visa holders nationwide are from India, more than 70% in 2024, according to federal data. The second greatest number of holders are from China, The Center Square reported.
Note the elephant in the room: China. As in, the primary geopolitical rival of the United States. That China. Why are so many Chinese nationals buying up homes in Texas, of all places? All this brings two questions to mind.
First: All this may have some real estate agents grinning at some fat commission checks, but this may be an aspect of our immigration system that needs a closer look, especially since housing prices are rising to the point where many young families can no longer afford a home of their own.
Second: What are all these people doing in the United States? H-1B visas are a known issue, and that's another aspect of the immigration system that needs a closer look; the H-1B visa system should be used only when absolutely necessary. In my last few years in my medical device/biotech career, I saw the beginnings of this: More and more people brought in for project work under an H-1B visa. Many of those young people were competent enough, but at the same time, young American engineers and quality systems people were having more and more trouble finding employment.
And, of course, China. We've seen the growing problem of Chinese concerns buying up American farmlands, in many cases lands suspiciously near major U.S. military installations. Could these real estate purchases be a part of something larger?
Supply and demand apply in the housing market just as in any market. This activity by visa holders is reducing the supply of available housing, and now, many young Americans are finding residential real estate beyond their means. That's the nub of the issue.
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