Central Park Tower with international flags (Extell Development Marketing)
Foreign investors and those looking to make a home in the United States have long looked to New York. For example, a family from Peru paid nearly $27 million for eight units at Waterline Square in an all-cash deal early in the pandemic, saying they thought their money would be safer in New York real estate than in a bank. International interest is sure to heat up now that the borders have reopened; but for those without citizenship or an established United States credit history, finding housing in New York can come with a unique set of challenges. Ahead we'll go over common challenges faced by foreign buyers in several different housing scenarios, including purchasing in a coop, and why condos are a considerably better option for overseas buyers.
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Gaining approval from the boards of many prestigious NYC co-ops is known for its challenging nature. (The Beresford)
Why Co-op Boards Avoid Foreign Buyers
While even U.S. citizens fear co-op boards, the experience of dealing with one can be much worse for foreigners. A few years ago, Jason Myers put his two-bedroom Upper East Side co-op on the market in preparation for a move to Los Angeles. Given the current market, he had little concern about turning over his unit before his scheduled move in August—but that was before he discovered that his board was only interested in welcoming U.S. born tenants. By the time Myers’ unit was handed over to the new owners—a young couple from Ohio who had just moved to the city for work—his co-op board had turned down five other offers from foreign buyers who had all proposed cash-only deals or at least substantially higher down payments than the couple from Ohio.“I was flabbergasted,” said Myers from his new home in Los Angeles. “I had been on the board of my co-op but I never anticipated this. I felt betrayed.” While Myers may have felt betrayed, from his former co-op board’s perspective—notably, no one from the board was available for comment—they were simply doing what many co-op boards perceive to be in the best interest of the building. In short, foreign buyers, even those with substantial assets, are frequently considered a liability or simply a bad cultural fit. But can co-op boards reject buyers on the basis of their foreign status?
“Most co-op boards don’t want someone who doesn’t reflect the building’s current makeup."
Is this legal? The short answer is yes.
International real estate attorney Edward Mermelstein, a founding partner of RheemBell & Mermelstein LLP, explains that for many co-op boards, foreign buyers are considered undesirable due to a “lack of transparency.” After all, if a prospective tenant has only recently moved to the U.S., the board will be unable to carry out as thorough a background check as they would on a U.S. citizen. But Mermelstein adds that the rejection of foreign buyers is not simply about the ability to carry out thorough credit investigations: “Most co-op boards don’t want someone who doesn’t reflect the building’s current make up.”
Is this legal? The short answer is yes—the practice of maintaining the status quo is entirely legal assuming no discriminatory remarks are made along the way. However, New York State lawmakers have proposed a bill that would require residential co-op boards to provide a written explanation for why they have decided to reject applicants. Some worry that this bill would lead to lawsuits, but others say that a more transparent co-op application process could make things less discriminatory.
Is this legal? The short answer is yes—the practice of maintaining the status quo is entirely legal assuming no discriminatory remarks are made along the way. However, New York State lawmakers have proposed a bill that would require residential co-op boards to provide a written explanation for why they have decided to reject applicants. Some worry that this bill would lead to lawsuits, but others say that a more transparent co-op application process could make things less discriminatory.
The High Cost of Renting as a Foreign National
If foreign buyers, even those with substantial assets, face an uphill battle in the housing market, foreign renters may be even worse off. When Elizabeth Carson, a research scientist, moved to New York City from Toronto in 2012, she found herself facing a situation familiar to most foreign renters. “I had a great rental history, an outstanding credit rating, and I was here on an H1B visa as a distinguished researcher, but my rental situation was worse than it had been in college,” says Carson. Her first four applications were rejected, because like most foreign nationals, she had no credit history in the U.S. She also had no close relatives or friends living in New York State who could serve as a guarantor.Eventually, a landlord was willing to given Carson a chance, but asked for a year’s rent upfront, and this was in addition to the security deposit and 15 percent broker’s fee. “The apartment was $2900 per month,” recalls Carson, “And I was being asked to hand over close to $50,000 upfront! At that point, I broke down and told my employer that the move was impossible.”
Eventually, a colleague suggested Carson contact Insurent, a third-party agency that underwrites leases for “credit worthy individuals” who cannot meet landlords’ typical asset or U.S. credit history requirements. Such companies have become increasingly popular with domestic renters as an alternative to security deposits, but they also help international renters get their foot in the door. Such was the case with Carson: She was able to rent an apartment with the help of Insurent, and later moved to a new apartment with enough U.S. credit history to qualify on her own.
Eventually, a colleague suggested Carson contact Insurent, a third-party agency that underwrites leases for “credit worthy individuals” who cannot meet landlords’ typical asset or U.S. credit history requirements. Such companies have become increasingly popular with domestic renters as an alternative to security deposits, but they also help international renters get their foot in the door. Such was the case with Carson: She was able to rent an apartment with the help of Insurent, and later moved to a new apartment with enough U.S. credit history to qualify on her own.
Even Diplomats Have Trouble
The “diplomats welcome” tagline that occasionally appears on rental advertisements and New York City can be perplexing. Why wouldn't they be? After all, the city is home to more than 30,000 diplomats and their families who are more than happy to be here. However, there is the question of diplomatic immunity, which is essentially a principle of international law that maintains that certain foreign government officials, such as diplomats, are not subject to local laws.For landlords, diplomatic immunity opens up the possibility that one may end up playing host to a foreign visitor who refuses to the pay the rent and yet have no way to evict the tenant or recover monies owed. While incidents of diplomats not paying rent are extremely rare, over the decades, a few bad apples have been enough to dissuade most landlords from renting to diplomats. Those landlords who do agree to rent to diplomats typically only do so under specific conditions and regularly ask for up to a year’s rent in advance. Although some embassies are able and willing to foot the bill, in other cases, diplomats, like other foreign nationals, turn to third parties to underwrite the cost of renting.
(CityRealty)
Foreign Buyers Go Condo
Given the difficulty foreigners living in New York City face as buyers and renters, one may wonder why there are so many luxury condos in Manhattan owned by foreign investors. First, it is perfectly legal for a limited liability company (LLC), or legal but inactive companies that are simply used to facilitate financial transactions, to purchase properties. When an LLC is involved in a purchase, owners’ names and signatures do not appear on title documents, meaning that whether or not the purchaser is or is not a U.S. citizen is not readily apparent. LLCs are in fact a popular vehicle for celebrities and other high-profile individuals who are purchasing properties in New York City and want to protect their privacy and keep stalkers at bay. A Treasury Department ruling does slightly change the landscape for wealthy foreign buyers—title companies will now be required by law to collect identification information about the owners behind LLCs—but does not prevent foreign investors from purchasing luxury properties with LLCs.
Central Park Tower Penthouse (SERHANT)
Several factors make condos more attractive to foreign buyers. Because condominiums typically do not have the same ownership restrictions as co-op boards (they mark a deal between an investor and developers, rather than future neighbors) money is far more important than a buyer’s nationality. Moreover, with new condo developments shooting up across the city, purchasers are being offered a wide range of options at every price point, in every neighborhood.
Examples: On Billionaires Row, Central Park Tower, the world's tallest residential building, has units priced between $6.5 million for a two-bedroom to a whopping $195 million for a duplex penthouse. In a quieter section of Yorkville, one-bedrooms at Carnegie Park Condominium start at $949K.
“For foreign buyers, the biggest hurdle remains understanding the process,” emphasizes Mermelstein, “Language and cultural barriers pose an obstacle for many of these buyers, but there are even differences between buying in New York and Miami. That’s why we work closely with clients to educate them about the process at each step. It’s not impossible to purchase property, but foreign investors do face more obstacles along the way.”
Examples: On Billionaires Row, Central Park Tower, the world's tallest residential building, has units priced between $6.5 million for a two-bedroom to a whopping $195 million for a duplex penthouse. In a quieter section of Yorkville, one-bedrooms at Carnegie Park Condominium start at $949K.
“For foreign buyers, the biggest hurdle remains understanding the process,” emphasizes Mermelstein, “Language and cultural barriers pose an obstacle for many of these buyers, but there are even differences between buying in New York and Miami. That’s why we work closely with clients to educate them about the process at each step. It’s not impossible to purchase property, but foreign investors do face more obstacles along the way.”
Most Viewed CityRealty Buildings by Country
Australia
432 Park Avenue, #PH96 (OFFICIAL)
Austria
Trump Tower, #64GH (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)
Canada
The Dakota is the most popular CityRealty building in Canada and possibly the most famous apartment building in the world.
The Dakota, #45 (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)
Brazil
Jardim, designed by Brazilian architect was the second most popular from Brazilian users. Isay Weinfeld
Jardim, #9A (Leven Real Estate)
France
Germany
The Ansonia, #4102 (The Agency Brokerage)
Greece
Olympic Tower, #31C (Nest Seekers LLC)
Hong Kong
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Sited at the edge of Chinatown in the Lower East Side's Two Bridges neighborhood, the uninteresting, view-blocking tower is the most popular by users in Hong Kong.
One Manhattan Square, #66J
$5,475,000
Lower East Side | Condominium | 3 Bedrooms, 3.5 Baths | 2,347 ft2
One Manhattan Square, #66J (Corcoran Group)
India
Central Park Tower, #107
$149,500,000
Midtown West | Condominium | 6+ Bedrooms, 6+ Baths | 12,557 ft2
Central Park Tower, #107 (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)
Israel
Overlooking Columbus Circle, One Central Park West, formerly Trump International, is the second most viewed building by users in Israel.
One Central Park West, #47BC
$27,500,000 (-21.3%)
Central Park West | Condominium | 5 Bedrooms, 6+ Baths | 6,279 ft2
One Central Park West, #47BC (OFFICIAL)
Italy
The finest residential supertall in the city is also the third most viewed building by users in Italy.
111 West 57th Street, #66 (Corcoran Group)
Japan
The tower that made 57th Street Billionaires' Row is the most viewed building by users in Japan
One57, #51C (Bespoke Real Estate LLC)
Mexico
The Park Avenue
740 Park Avenue, #67C (Corcoran Group)
Russia
No. 33 Park Row, #PH3
$19,500,000
Financial District | Condominium | 5 Bedrooms, 5.5 Baths | 5,403 ft2
No. 33 Park Row, #PH3 (Compass)
Spain
The Apthorp, #10B
$5,200,000
Riverside Dr./West End Ave. | Condominium | 4 Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths | 2,903 ft2
The Apthorp, #10B (Corcoran Group)
Saudi Arabia
The Mondrian is the most popular building by users in Saudi Arabia likely due to confusion with the Mondrian hotel brand which is opening its first hotel in Riyadh
The Mondrian, #6C (Compass)
South Africa
The Plaza, #1309 (Compass)
The Plaza, #510 (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)
The United Kingdom
The Belnord, #M01 (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)
Would you like to tour any of these properties?
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Would you like to tour any of these properties?
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