Marianna Estrella · November 5, 2026
One of the first questions Brazilian buyers ask me is whether they are even allowed to buy property in the United States. The answer is simple: yes. Florida has no citizenship or residency requirement for owning real estate. You can buy a home, an investment condo or a vacation rental with your Brazilian passport, whether you hold a tourist visa, an investor visa or no U.S. visa at all at the moment of closing.
The essential documents are your passport, proof of funds (bank or investment statements), and — if you plan to finance — documentation of income and assets in Brazil. Many clients also obtain an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) for tax filing after purchase, and open a U.S. bank account to simplify closing and ongoing expenses. None of these require living in the United States.
Roughly half of my Brazilian clients buy in cash, often after converting funds through a licensed exchange broker. The other half use foreign-national loan programs: U.S. lenders that do not require American credit history, typically asking 25% to 30% down and proof of income from Brazil. Rates run somewhat higher than resident loans, but they let buyers keep capital invested elsewhere. I connect clients with lenders who process these loans every week.
The Florida process is faster and more standardized than most buyers expect: choose the property (visits in person or by video call), submit a written offer, sign the purchase contract, place the deposit in escrow, complete the inspection and appraisal, and close — usually 30 to 45 days after the offer with financing, or as little as two weeks in cash. Title insurance protects your ownership, and you do not need to be in the U.S. on closing day: documents can be signed remotely or through a power of attorney.
Beyond the price, budget for closing costs (roughly 1.5% to 3% in a cash purchase, more with a loan), annual property tax, insurance, and HOA dues where they apply. If you rent the property out, rental income is taxable in the U.S. — an accountant experienced in Brazil-U.S. taxation is worth every dollar, and I introduce clients to professionals I trust before they buy, not after.
I am a licensed Florida and California real estate agent working with Brazilian and international buyers in Orlando, Kissimmee and across Central Florida, in Portuguese, English and Spanish. If you are considering a home or an investment in Florida, send me a message on WhatsApp — the first conversation costs nothing and usually saves months.