Selling to International Buyers in Palm Beach County: Pricing, Currency, Remote Closings and FIRPTA

Selling to international buyers can widen the pool for a Palm Beach County home, especially on the coast and at higher prices. Foreign buyers spent $4.4 billion on South Florida homes in 2025, according to Miami Realtors. Still, these buyers shop in a different way. They often tour by video, think in another currency, and may close from another country. This guide covers who they are, how to reach them, and the tax rule every seller should know: FIRPTA.

Key takeaways

• Foreign buyers bought about 5,300 South Florida homes in 2025, worth $4.4 billion, and 51% of those deals were cash.
• Colombia, Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, Venezuela and Canada led the list of buyer countries in the Miami Realtors 2025 report.
• Most foreign buying in South Florida happens in Miami-Dade County. Palm Beach County draws a smaller share, so plan your reach with care.
• FIRPTA applies when the seller is a foreign person. The general withholding rate is 15% of the sale price, with a lower rate or an exemption for some homes bought as residences.
• Strong photos, video tours, floor plans and clear proof of funds checks matter more when the buyer is far away.

Who is buying: the numbers behind selling to international buyers

Miami Realtors released its 2025 international report in January 2026. It found that foreign buyers made up 15% of South Florida's sales dollar volume. Statewide, the share was 5%, and nationally it was 2%. The report also noted that one in five U.S. international home sales happens in Florida.

The top buyer countries for South Florida were:

• Colombia, at 15% of foreign buyers;
• Argentina, at 12%;
• Mexico and Brazil, at 7% each; and
• Venezuela and Canada, at 5% each.

Most of that money went to Miami-Dade County. Broward County came next, and Palm Beach County drew a smaller share. So for most local sellers, foreign buyers are one part of the market, not the whole of it. Even so, for an oceanfront condo in Highland Beach or an estate on the island of Palm Beach, one serious buyer from abroad can make the deal.

Marketing when selling to international buyers

A buyer in Bogota or Toronto will see your home on a screen long before they see it in person. That changes what your listing needs.

Photos, video and floor plans

Professional photos are the starting point. Add a full video walk-through, a drone view if you have water or a large lot, and a measured floor plan. A buyer who cannot fly in for a quick look wants to understand the layout and the light before they book a trip.

Language and units

Many buyers read English well. However, a short summary in Spanish or Portuguese can help, given where many South Florida buyers come from. Some buyers also think in square meters, so list both square feet and square meters in the brochure.

Price and currency

Your price stays in U.S. dollars. Still, buyers convert it in their heads, and exchange rates move. A stronger home currency can make your home look like a better deal, while a weaker one can delay a decision. You cannot control this, but your agent should know it may affect timing and talks.

Where the listing appears

The MLS feeds many U.S. sites, and some brokerages also syndicate listings to international portals or partner networks. Ask your agent how your home will reach buyers abroad, and which channels have produced real buyers before. Our guide to choosing a luxury real estate agent lists more questions to ask.

Remote showings when selling to international buyers

Live video tours have become routine. The buyer's agent walks the home on a call while the buyer asks questions. Plan for time zones, and make sure the home is show-ready on short notice.

Offers can be signed by electronic signature, which most Florida brokerages already use. The buyer's agent will usually handle the contract on their side, and the deposit goes to a Florida title company or attorney escrow account.

Checking proof of funds

Many foreign buyers pay cash. In fact, the Miami Realtors report found that 51% of international deals in South Florida were cash. So the key check is proof that the money is real and can reach the U.S. in time.

• Ask for a recent bank or brokerage letter showing enough funds.
• Ask where the money is held. Funds already in a U.S. account move faster than funds abroad.
• Give enough time in the contract for an international wire, which can take longer than a domestic one.
• Let the title company handle the escrow and wire instructions. Never send or accept wire details by plain email without a phone check.

Documents to have ready

A buyer who is far away will lean on paperwork more than a local buyer would. So gather it before you list. Useful items include the survey, recent insurance quotes or policy details, the roof and window permit history, and the flood zone. For a condo, add the association budget, rules and recent meeting minutes.

Buyers from abroad may also ask about yearly carrying costs, since many will not live in the home full time. A simple one-page summary of property taxes, insurance, HOA dues and utilities helps them compare. Your agent can put this in a shared folder that the buyer's agent can open from anywhere.

Remote closings when selling to international buyers

A foreign buyer does not have to fly in to close. Title companies can often arrange a signing by mail, with a local notary, or through a U.S. consulate. Some also offer online notary services where Florida law allows it. Ask the title company early which method it will use, since overseas documents can take extra days.

The buyer may also choose to buy through a company or a trust, for privacy or tax reasons. That adds paperwork, such as proof of who controls the entity. Your agent and the title company will flag what is needed.

FIRPTA: the tax rule for foreign sellers

This part applies when the seller, not the buyer, is a foreign person. The Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act, known as FIRPTA, requires the buyer to withhold part of the price and send it to the IRS. It is a prepayment toward the seller's U.S. tax, not the final tax itself.

The withholding rates

The IRS sets the general rate at 15% of the amount realized, which is usually the sale price. There are two key exceptions for homes that the buyer will use as a residence:

• If the price is $300,000 or less and an individual buyer plans to live in the home, no withholding is required.
• If the price is more than $300,000 but no more than $1 million, and the buyer will use it as a residence, the rate drops to 10%.

To qualify as a residence, the buyer or a family member generally must plan to live in the home for at least half of the days it is used in each of the first two years. Above $1 million, the 15% rate applies.

Who does the withholding

The buyer is the withholding agent. In practice, the closing agent usually holds back the money and files the forms for the buyer. The return, Form 8288, is due along with the payment by the 20th day after the transfer. Form 8288-A goes to the IRS with it, and the seller later uses it to claim credit for the tax withheld.

Lowering the withholding

If the expected tax is less than the amount withheld, a foreign seller can apply for a withholding certificate on Form 8288-B. This takes planning, so a foreign seller should speak with a U.S. tax adviser before listing. A U.S. seller simply signs a statement that they are not a foreign person, and no withholding applies.

Pricing tips when selling to international buyers

Foreign buyers compare your home with homes in Miami, New York or their own capital cities. That means value has to be clear. Price against recent local sales, not against what a foreign buyer might pay elsewhere. Then show the extras that matter to them: security, a gated entry, a concierge or management company, hurricane protection and easy airport access.

Also be ready for longer timelines. A buyer may need weeks to move funds or set up an entity. Building that time into the contract up front avoids missed deadlines later.

Local notes on selling to international buyers

In Boca Raton, buyers often look at gated golf communities and downtown condos near Mizner Park. In Highland Beach, the draw is oceanfront condos on a narrow barrier island. On Palm Beach, buyers come for privacy, history and the island's limited supply. Each area needs its own pitch, and your agent should know which buyers have recently bought nearby.

Frequently asked questions

Is selling to international buyers riskier than selling to local buyers?

Not if you check proof of funds, use a Florida title company for escrow, and allow time for international wires. Most of the risk comes from short deadlines and unverified funds.

Do I pay FIRPTA if the buyer is foreign?

No. FIRPTA depends on whether the seller is a foreign person. If you are a U.S. person, you sign a statement saying so and no withholding applies.

Can a foreign buyer close without coming to Florida?

Yes, in most cases. Title companies can arrange signing by mail, through a notary or consulate abroad, or by online notary where allowed.

Which countries buy the most homes in South Florida?

In the Miami Realtors 2025 report, Colombia led at 15% of foreign buyers, followed by Argentina at 12%, then Mexico and Brazil at 7% each.

Sources

• Miami Realtors: 2025 international report (January 2026)
• IRS: FIRPTA withholding
• IRS: Exceptions from FIRPTA withholding
• IRS: Instructions for Forms 8288 and 8288-A

This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. FIRPTA and cross-border tax rules depend on your facts, so speak with a U.S. tax adviser and a Florida attorney.

Want to reach buyers beyond Florida? Request a confidential luxury market consultation and we will map out who is likely to buy your home and how to reach them. Contact Pure Equity. Buying from abroad? Our agents can run video tours and coordinate a remote closing.