Foreign Investor/Buyers Strong Exchange Rates!
With the ever strengthened Euro and Canadian Dollars, it's a wonder that not more foreign investor /buyers are not purchasing houses in the US. Plenty of inventories here, and some houses can be had for a very decent price.
If you are a Canadian citizen and you want to buy a house in the US you may not have to purchase it with cash, there are lenders available that won't hesitate to make a loan without a green card or an American social security card. The only time a taxpayer ID number is required is if you plan to rent out the house full or part of the time and you plan to file for a US tax return in hopes of a tax refund. In order to avoid the double taxation you can always claim a foreign tax credit on your Canadian return. Currently Canadians can enter the US with minimal effort and can stay legally up to 180 days each calendar year.
Other perks to owning US property besides the fantastic exchange rate and inexpensive house price is that US homeowners can claim mortgage interest payment from taxable income.
With many foreign investors already present in the Chicago, New York and Florida area, why not have them look towards a diversified Carolina. North and South Carolina property values have more stability compared to the remainder of the country and one can find some enviable properties. I think it is only a matter of time for foreign investors to find us.