International Home Buying Demand Shifts as Sun Belt Markets Surge

Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst

Source: PRnewswire

Updated: 4 days ago

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Source: PRnewswire

Shifting International Demand: In Q1 2026, international home shoppers accounted for 1.6% of online demand on Realtor.com®, up from 1.2% in Q1 2020, indicating a gradual market recovery, particularly with rising interest in Sun Belt markets.
Miami's Dominance: Miami remains the top U.S. destination for international buyers, capturing 10.3% of all international online views, reflecting its strong appeal among global homebuyers, especially high-net-worth individuals.
Declining Appeal of Los Angeles: Los Angeles has seen its share of international online views drop from 7.9% in 2020 to 4.6% in 2026, indicating a loss of competitiveness primarily due to soaring insurance costs and tax burdens that deter wealthy buyers.
Canadian Buyers' Cautious Return: In Q1 2026, Canadian buyers represented 37.8% of international traffic, down from 41.8% in 2024, but showing signs of cautious re-engagement, particularly in Sun Belt and Southwest markets where demand has notably increased.

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About NWS

News Corporation is a diversified media and information services company. Its Digital Real Estate Services segment consists of the Company's interest in REA Group and Move. REA Group is a digital media business specializing in property and property-related services on its Websites and mobile apps. Move is a provider of digital real estate services in the United States and primarily operates Realtor.com, a real estate information, advertising and services platform, its referral-based services, online tools and services to do-it-yourself landlords and tenants. Its Dow Jones segment includes Dow Jones, a global provider of news and business information, which distributes its content and data through a variety of media channels. Its Book Publishing segment consists of HarperCollins, a consumer book publisher with operations in 15 countries. Its News Media segment consists of News Corp Australia, News UK and the New York Post and includes The Australian, The Daily Telegraph, among others.

About the author

Emily J. Thompson

Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.

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