International buyers scoop up properties in Texas despite housing crash
International demand also grew noticeably in Austin, Dallas and San Antonio. None of the metros appeared in the top rankings for international buyers last year. 'The growing appeal of Texas markets to international buyers signals a noteworthy regional shift in investment focus,' said Danielle Hale, Realtor's chief economist. International buyers see Texas as a place for a long-term investment due to its lower cost of living and lack of state income tax. Many high-profile businesses have also relocated to the state, which has led to economic growth, job creation, infrastructure development and housing demand.
Texas' cultural diversity and easy international travel connections also help its global appeal. For instance, San Antonio landed in the top destinations for Mexican homebuyers due to its proximity to the US-Mexico border. 'Mexican buyers likely tend to favor US border cities because of their proximity to home, strong cultural and language connections, established family and business networks, and easier access to education, healthcare and cross-border travel —making these areas both practical and familiar for living and investment,' said Hale.
Texas realtor Cesar Amezcua explained the appeal of the Lone Star State — in particular San Antonio. 'We are just two hours from Mexico's border. We're literally 156 miles from the closest border town so we have always had a big influx of people from foreign nations, especially from Mexico,' he told the Daily Mail. Amezcua says a mix of buyers are using the purchases as investments to rent out, for their college age kids to live in, of for themselves as a main home.
'Some use it while they stay in the US for a couple weeks, other people use it for their children who want to go to college,' he said. 'They often work for big corporations in the technology sector, and they're always looking for the best schools.' International buyers have also been looking at buying in Houston, which is reinventing itself as a booming tech hotspot.
Apple and Nvidia are leading the push with new AI factories in the city, which is set to create jobs, develop real estate and solidify Houston's future as America's next tech city. Amezcua added that the diverse culture in many Texas cities is often what draws international buyers too. 'There's plenty of nightlife depending on what it is that you're looking for,' Amezcua added.
'There are upscale restaurants and bars and cocktail places. 'We really are spoiled here in San Antonio. There's a little bit of everything because we're such a such a diverse town. For food, there's Peruvian, Colombian, Indian, Mexican, Tex-Mex, American Continental — you name it, we have it.' Amezcua says a buyer could likely get a three-bedroom, two-bath, two-car garage for anywhere between $250,000 and $300,000 in the city. 'For that you're going to end up in a nice neighborhood with nice amenities like water parks and pools,' he said.
Meanwhile, Texas has the most cities which have seen falling house prices over the last year. From April 2024 to April 2025, San Antonio saw prices drop 1.8 percent. Austin has seen a 1.2 percent fall, Dallas is down 0.8 percent and Fort Worth has dropped 0.2 percent. Texas became a boom state during the pandemic due to its warm weather, low tax rates and affordable housing compared to major coastal cities.
For Americans, places like Dallas and Austin were once seen as affordable alternatives to high-cost cities like San Francisco and New York. But prices are now on the way down — in part due to the increasing frequency and intensity of climate disasters such as hurricanes. This has led to skyrocketing insurance premiums and rising HOA costs across many major cities.
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