Real Estate Agents in Florida Protest

Realtors in Florida are protesting vociferously against the immigration clamp down measures that the US government implemented following the terror attacks in 2001 and which, they say, are harming foreign direct investment into real estate in America.

According to the international operations committee for the Florida Association of Realtors, many foreign clients who have previously purchased property in the United States are annually suffering personal inconvenience and intrusions - from having to have their fingerprints taken whenever they fly to America to vacation in their homes to having visas for family members refused because they have made visits to certain countries that the US finds unacceptable - these individuals are selling up and creating a surplus of property for sale in Florida.

Furthermore, many potential overseas purchasers of these properties for sale are being put off buying property in America by the application process that they have to go through just to secure a visa to visit the country and search for real estate. 

Others from nations such as the UK that are granted visa-free 90 day access to America are put off by the thought of having to go through a lengthy immigration process if they want to spend more than three months in their investment property in America, and overall the levels of overseas interest in US property for sale have dropped quite dramatically at the same time as the overall real estate market in America is stagnating.

Some say the real estate agents in Florida’s protest is totally unjustified because America has not significantly altered its immigration procedures in recent years, it has just clamped down on the implementation of procedures in place prior to the 2001 terror attacks.  But the vice chairman of the international operations committee for the Florida Association of Realtors was recently quoted as saying “[after 9/11] pretty much nobody wanted to talk about letting more foreign nationals into the country” and this is a serious issue that the committee are trying to raise awareness of as it is harming the property market in America and harming international opinion of the US.

The Florida real estate market has often outperformed all other state property markets because it is just so popular with international investors and holiday makers because of its excellent climate, fantastic beaches and world class entertainment options, and Florida is boosted massively by foreign direct investment – when foreigners decide that they are no longer welcome in America because America is doing everything it can to keep them out then the property market in Florida is going to begin to collapse…and that is exactly what is happening according to the Florida Association of Realtors.

They have once again called on the government to consider offering international retirees incentives to move to live in America, incentives that were already under review prior to 9/11 and which have since been buried, and they have also asked that America considers reining in its controls on international citizens traveling to the country to visit properties that they own on American soil. 

Their protests are unlikely to have any affect on the Bush administration but at least they have made their point and had it listened to…

Special Reports: Property News for Florida USA

America US Real Estate Buying Guide
The real estate purchase process in America is incredibly well regulated but differs slightly from state to state

America US Overview for Real Estate Investors
America is a land of unrivalled opportunity for the real estate investor whatever type of property opportunity is being sought.

America US Real Estate Investment Potential
The American real estate market is very well documented so an investor can seek out and target specific investment potential