Texas Home Buying: Indians Rise to 2nd Among Foreigners

Indian nationals bought 14% of homes sold to international buyers in Texas, up from previous years, according to the Texas Realtors 2024 International Homebuyers Report. Mexicans remained the top foreign buyers at 35%, but Indians surpassed all other nationalities, including Chinese and Vietnamese buyers.

The increase was driven largely by H-1B visa holders, who made up a significant portion of the 62% of buyers who were either on visas or recent immigrants. The report noted that Indian nationals, many employed in Texas's tech sector, are increasingly choosing suburban homes in areas like Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin.

International buyers purchased 7,780 homes in Texas over the past year, up from 7,500 the previous year. Of those, 59% of non-resident buyers paid all cash, and the median purchase price was $375,000, above the state's overall median home price.

Texas attracted 17% of all Indian buyers nationwide, making it the second most popular state for Indian homebuyers after California. However, tighter federal visa rules and uncertainty around H-1B renewals are creating headwinds for future purchases, according to local real estate agents.

The report also highlighted that Indian buyers tend to prefer new construction and homes in good school districts, often purchasing with family financial support. Despite visa challenges, agents expect Indian demand to remain strong as long as tech hiring continues.