Can Foreigners Buy Real Estate in Texas?

Texas has long welcomed international buyers from around the world. But a significant new law took effect September 1, 2025, that changed the rules for buyers connected to certain countries. Here is exactly where things stand today.

The Short Answer: Most Foreign Nationals Can Still Buy

There is no U.S. citizenship requirement to purchase real estate in Texas. Foreign nationals — including those who do not live in the United States — can legally purchase homes, investment properties, land, condominiums, and commercial real estate in Texas, per HAR.com's May 2026 overview of foreign buyer rules. Texas continues to attract international buyers for its strong economy, growing population, and housing that offers significantly more value than comparable property in many global cities. U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents (Green Card holders), visa holders, and non-resident foreign nationals from most countries can purchase property freely for personal use or investment.

Texas SB 17: What Changed in September 2025

Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 17 into law in June 2025, with an effective date of September 1, 2025. The law, codified as Texas Property Code Subchapter H (Sections 5.251 through 5.259), prohibits individuals, entities, and governments connected to designated countries from purchasing or acquiring any interest in real property in Texas — including residential homes, commercial properties, agricultural land, and industrial facilities, per analysis from Goodwin Law and Jackson Walker.

Which Countries Are Restricted

The designated countries as of September 1, 2025, are China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, per Norton Rose Fulbright's legal analysis. The Governor of Texas may designate additional countries, and any country identified by the U.S. Director of National Intelligence as a national security risk within the prior three years is automatically added. The law applies to citizens, residents, and entities associated with these governments — including those who are legally present in the United States on valid visas, per Godoy Law Office's immigration law analysis of SB 17.

What the Law Does NOT Do

SB 17 does not restrict buyers from Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Germany, India, South Korea, or the vast majority of other countries. It does not retroactively affect existing property ownership — the law applies prospectively to acquisitions on or after September 1, 2025. Purchases in violation of SB 17 are not automatically void, but violators face civil and criminal penalties. The law is currently being challenged on constitutional grounds in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, per Duane Morris LLP's August 2025 legal alert, and its final legal status may evolve.

What International Buyers Should Do

International buyers from any country should work with a licensed Texas real estate attorney to confirm their eligibility before entering into any purchase contract in Texas. For buyers from the vast majority of countries — where SB 17 does not apply — the purchase process in Texas is essentially the same as for any domestic buyer: standard TREC contracts, title company closing, and the same financing options available to non-resident foreign nationals who qualify for the applicable loan programs.

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