Immigrants Selling Florida Homes Amid Legal Uncertainty, Opening Doors for Bargain-Hunting Buyers: Report

A growing number of immigrants in Florida are selling their homes due to mounting legal uncertainty, creating new opportunities for buyers in a cooling housing market, according to a Miami Herald report.

Real estate broker Gisela Rojas, who operates in Orlando and Miami, told the Herald that she's seeing an uptick in clients, mainly from Latin America, looking to sell quickly and leave the U.S.: "There are people leaving, calling me to put their house up for sale. 'I'm going back, I can't live here." Many are returning to Colombia, Mexico, or Venezuela, and some are exploring options in Europe.

According to Rojas, many of these homeowners originally purchased property using FHA loans, which allow low down payments, and locked in lower mortgage rates prior to the recent interest rate increases. Now, facing an increasingly uncertain immigration environment, they are cashing out their equity. "They had already achieved the American dream without being residents, with a lot of effort," she said.

The rise in listings comes at a time when Florida's market is shifting. Properties are sitting on the market longer and builders are offering significant incentives to buyers. Rojas cited a recent deal where a buyer received $38,000 in closing cost support on a $600,000 new home.

The trend appears linked to broader political developments. A Bloomberg report from May highlighted that President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown has added pressure to Miami's already strained housing market, with local agents reporting increased hesitation among both renters and buyers, driven by fears over visa renewals and residency status. In the months since, that fear has only gotten worse.

"Some people are afraid—they want to buy or rent, but they say, 'How can I if I don't know if next year, or next week, my visa is going to be extended or not?'" said Maruja Gil, a Miami-based agent, to Bloomberg at the time.

New federal and state immigration policies, including restrictions on FHA loans for non-permanent residents and increased deportation efforts, are further discouraging investment. "They're stepping back and waiting to see how this plays out," said Peggy Olin, CEO of OneWorld Properties.