Brickell
High-rise condos, walkable, the closest thing Miami has to a financial-district lifestyle. Popular for rental flexibility.
Canadian Buyers
Buying in Miami and South Florida as a Canadian
From a winter base to a long-term hold, I help Canadian buyers purchase here without the surprises around condo financing, insurance, and cross-border closing.
Start a private conversationCanadians are consistently one of the largest foreign-buyer groups in the U.S. — second only to China nationwide, per NAR — and remain active across Florida.
Canada has long been one of Florida's top sources of buyers, and Miami sits at the high end of that interest. The pattern is familiar: a winter base, a rental hold, or a place to diversify out of a single housing market at home.
The mechanics are different from buying in Canada though. Condo financeability, hurricane and flood insurance, and the cross-border closing process all behave in ways that catch first-time Florida buyers off guard. That is the part I handle.
Before you fall for a unit, check whether the building can be financed
Miami's condo market has split in two. After Florida's reserve and structural-inspection rules took effect, some buildings are clean and easy to finance, and others are on lenders' ineligible lists because of thin reserves, deferred inspections, special assessments, or litigation. Two identical-looking units can have completely different financeability. This is the part most buyers find out too late, and it is the first thing I check.
- Reserve health and any pending or recent special assessment
- Structural inspection and recertification status
- Whether the building sits on a lender's ineligible-project list
- Active litigation involving the association
- Insurance adequacy and how it flows into your monthly cost
Which neighborhoods do international buyers actually choose?
It depends on what the property is for. Brickell and Edgewater draw buyers who want a lock-and-leave condo with rental flexibility. Coral Gables and Coconut Grove attract buyers who want a primary or long-term home with space and trees. Miami Beach splits between lifestyle buyers and short-term-rental investors. I match the neighborhood to how you plan to use and hold the property, not the other way around.
Pre-construction or resale?
Pre-construction lets you pay deposits over the build period and take a brand-new unit, which appeals to buyers moving money in over time. Resale closes faster, lets you see the actual unit and building finances, and avoids developer timeline risk. Both work. The right call comes down to your timeline and how much you want to know about the building before you commit.
What rental income is realistic?
Ranges vary widely by building and by what the association allows. A building that permits short-term rentals behaves very differently from one capped at one or two leases a year. Before you assume a yield, the rental rules and fees of the specific building matter more than the neighborhood average. I pull those for any unit you are serious about.
Coral Gables
Tree-lined, established, stronger on single-family and long-term homes. A primary-residence neighborhood.
Coconut Grove
Green, low-key, waterfront-adjacent. Draws buyers who want a home rather than a unit.
Miami Beach
Beachfront condos and homes. Splits between lifestyle buyers and investors, with rental rules that vary block to block.
Can I buy in Miami without being a U.S. citizen or resident?
Yes. Florida places no citizenship or residency requirement on owning property. International buyers have the same ownership rights as anyone else.
Do I need a visa or green card to buy?
No. Owning property is separate from immigration status. Buying a home does not grant any immigration benefit, and you do not need a visa to purchase.
Can I buy remotely without flying to Miami?
Often, yes. Many international buyers close using remote notarization or a power of attorney, subject to the lender's and title company's approval. Most still visit once before deciding, and I can run showings by video until you do.
How long does a purchase take?
A cash purchase can close in a few weeks. A financed purchase typically runs 30 to 45 days after the contract, and longer if the building needs a deeper lender review or documents need apostilles.
Can a foreign national get a mortgage here, without U.S. credit or an SSN?
Often yes, through foreign-national loan programs, but the terms depend on your profile and the specific building. I will introduce you to a lender who closes these in Miami regularly so you get real numbers, not guesses.
Should I hold the property in my own name or an LLC?
That is a question for a CPA and an attorney, and the right answer depends on your goals. I work with cross-border specialists and can connect you before you decide.
What is FIRPTA, and how will it affect me when I sell?
FIRPTA is a federal rule that can apply when a foreign owner sells U.S. property. How it touches your situation is a question for a cross-border CPA, and I can put you in front of one early.
What will I owe in U.S. taxes on rental income?
That depends on your circumstances and filings, which is CPA territory rather than something to settle on a web page. I will connect you with a cross-border accountant so you plan it correctly up front.
Start a private conversation
Tell me what you are looking for. I will reply personally, usually within a day.