(16 percent), and other aggregators (17 percent). Realtor.com, which launched an international site (www.realtor.com/international) in
2011, accounted for 6 percent of online leads.
• Know what they’re seeking. Most homes
purchased by foreign buyers, about 42 percent,
are used as a primary residence. Non-resident
foreigners are limited to six-month stays in
the U.S., so these buyers largely use the property for vacation or rental purposes or as an
investment. Roughly 65 percent of purchases
involved a single-family home. Nearly half of international clients preferred properties in a suburban area, about a quarter preferred a central
city or urban area, and about 13 percent chose
to buy in a resort area. Location appears to be
the primary factor affecting residential home
purchases, depending on the buyer’s employment, vacation preferences, family, educational
and investment objectives.
• Know where to go from here. NAR can
help with specific in