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The Importance of the Contract in the Acquisition and Sale of U.S. Real Property
The contract which is referred to in this article, and set forth in its entirety elsewhere in this publication, is the Residential Sale and Purchase Contract (version FAR 9), ("Contract") which generally also contains certain Paragraphs from the Residential Sale and Purchase Contract: Comprehensive Addendum (version FAR 10). The Residential Sale and Purchase Contract and Residential Sale and Purchase Contract: Comprehensive Addendum may sometime be referred to individually or collectively as the Contract. The Contract and all rights associated with the Contract are the property of the Florida Realtors® formerly known as the Florida Association of REALTORS® The Contract is utilized in residential transactions throughout the entire State of Florida.
Immigration for Real Estate Investors
1. The Visa Waiver Pilot Program (VWP)
2. The В visa category
3. The E-2 Treaty Investor visa
4. The L Intra-company Transferee visa
5. The Alien Entrepreneur Immigrant visa: the $1 million investment
Financing a Real Estate Acquisition in the United States
The credit situation in the United States and the real estate market are both characterized by unusually stressful circumstances. Foreign and domestic purchasers of U.S. real estate will find it increasingly difficult to obtain mortgage loans. For purchasers who are able to pay cash and who seek medium and long term placements, the real estate market in Florida offers very attractive investment opportunities. For anyone who needs third party financing, the landscape is at present somewhat bleak.
Factors to Consider in Buying a Business in Florida
The following discussion is geared towards foreign nationals who are purchasing a business in Florida, generally with a view to obtaining an investor's (E-2) visa. For these visa applicants, the first and foremost of the factors to be considered is the adequacy of the business being purchased for the visa. E-2 visa applications are generally analyzed by the U.S. consulates in the country of origin of the visa applicant. Because each consulate often has its own peculiarities when deciding to grant visa applications, the foreign candidate should seek out an immigration attorney who has experience with the Consulate having jurisdiction.
Choosing a Method of Ownership for Real Property Located in Florida
With a strong economy, attractive beaches and numerous attractions, South Florida has, over the last years, seen a flood of foreign investors seeking, among other things, to purchase real estate for either residential or commercial purposes. In a world where many foreign currencies fluctuate greatly on a monthly, if not daily, basis, a real property investment protected by a stable U.S. economy and a strong currency justifiably appears to be a reasonably safe method to protect one's assets against the roller coaster of the world's and developing countries' economies.
Distressed Property Issues Affecting Foreign Buyers and Sellers
In the current real property market in South Florida, distressed property issues abound. Their effects are widespread and affect everyone in the market, either directly or indirectly. Foreclosures, REO, and Short sales have become common terms to most real estate professionals; however to foreign national clients, they are generally misunderstood, feared and worse, can have significant legal implications or consequences to the client.
EB-5 Immigrant Visa
Developers are quickly learning about the EB-5 visa as a mechanism for acquiring capital. Since 2008, when capital markets went dry, the EB-5 has been one of the few sources of hydration. Gone are the days when developers could easily obtain conventional financing at attractive interest rates. Securing EB-5 funding often means resuscitating projects from life support. Resourceful developers are successfully utilizing the EB-5 to create infrastructure, build hotels, office buildings, shopping centers, schools, assisted living facilities, hospitals, and so much more.