CRESCO HOMES USA · FLORIDA
Reserve, sign and close from the UAE. The steps, the costs Americans assume you know, and where foreign buyers buy.
Short answer: you can reserve, sign and close on a new Florida home from Dubai. Check that your passport and residence are cleared for Florida, choose a builder and community, sign the purchase contract, pay the deposit to the escrow or title company the contract names, then close with online notarization or a notary abroad. Budget for closing costs, a yearly property tax that is not capped as tightly as a resident's, homeowners insurance and any community fees.
| Step | What happens | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Eligibility | Confirm Florida's foreign buyer law does not apply to you. Every buyer signs an affidavit at closing. | Read which US states you can buy in |
| 2. Builder and community | Shortlist builders by delivery record and contract terms, not by the model home. | Who holds the deposit, and what happens if the build is late |
| 3. Contract | Sign the builder's purchase agreement, usually electronically. | Community fees and any district assessment must be disclosed in the contract |
| 4. Deposit | Wire the deposit to the escrow or title company, or to the builder, exactly as the contract says. | Verify wiring instructions by phone before you send. Wire fraud targets overseas buyers |
| 5. Finance | Pay cash, or arrange a foreign national loan early. These typically need 20% to 30% down. | Lender approval can take weeks. Start before the build finishes |
| 6. Build and inspection | Follow construction. Pay for an independent inspection before closing. | Builders' own checks are not independent |
| 7. Closing | Sign remotely. Florida allows online notarization for signers outside the state, or you sign before a notary or US consulate abroad. | Ask the title company which methods it accepts |
| 8. After closing | Insure the home, set up property management and register for US tax filings if you rent it. | Rental income must be reported to the IRS |
Rent is taxed in the US, a sale triggers FIRPTA withholding, and the home counts for US estate tax with a very small exemption for nonresidents. We explain each in US real estate taxes for GCC investors. If you buy through a company or trust with cash, FinCEN reporting applies since March 1, 2026.
| Metro area | Share of Florida foreign buyer purchases |
|---|---|
| Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach | 45% |
| Orlando, Kissimmee, Sanford | 13% |
| Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater | 8% |
| Cape Coral, Fort Myers | 7% |
| Naples | 6% |
Source: Florida Realtors, August 2024 to July 2025. Miami leads for condos and city living. Orlando and Tampa offer large new single family communities, popular with families and renters.
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Yes, in many cases. You can sign the contract electronically, wire the deposit to the escrow or title company and close using online notarization, which Florida allows for signers outside the state.
No. The homestead exemption is for owners whose permanent residence is the home. An overseas owner's home is capped instead at a 10% yearly rise in assessed value, excluding school taxes.
A Community Development District assessment funds roads and utilities in many new communities and is added to the yearly tax bill. Florida law requires it to be disclosed in the sales contract.
It varies by builder and price. The contract sets the amount and who holds it, so read both before you wire money.
Sources: Florida Realtors, 2025 Profile of International Residential Transactions in Florida; Miami-Dade Property Appraiser on the non homestead 10% cap; Florida Statutes s. 117.265 on online notarization and chapter 190 on Community Development Districts; Florida SB 264 affidavit requirement via Attorneys' Title Fund; lender guides on foreign national loans, 2026; FinCEN Residential Real Estate Rule, effective March 1, 2026. The metro comment on where new single family communities are built is our judgment. General information, not legal, tax or investment advice.
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Price is only part of what you need in the bank. We worked out the full cash requirement, including the Land Department transfer fee, the service partner fee and the Central Bank deposit caps, in how much money you need to buy property in Dubai.