Buying a South Florida Condo or Home as a Canadian

Settle the financing question before choosing a unit. A cash purchase keeps the timeline simplest. A buyer who needs a loan should ask a lender directly which programs are available to someone who is not a U.S. resident, what down payment and documents they require, and whether the specific building qualifies. Convert and move funds through a channel your bank confirms, and plan the currency exchange rather than leaving it to the week of closing.

For the building side of that question, read the South Florida condo buying guide and the condo document checklist.

Most of the comparison can happen by video and by document. Ask for a live walk-through, then read the association’s budget, reserves, assessments, insurance evidence, minutes, rules, and application process. Rules on rentals and seasonal use differ by association, so confirm them in writing if you plan to rent the unit while you are away.

Alexandra’s current listings and community guides such as Kings Point and Hillcrest are a starting point. The snowbird condo guide covers seasonal ownership, and the rental restrictions guide explains what to check before counting on rental income.

Florida permits online notarization, and many closings can be signed from Canada. The title or closing company decides which documents can be signed remotely and whether any original must be mailed. Ask early, allow time for delivery, and verify wiring instructions by phone using a number you already trust.

The remote closing guide walks through the steps. Canadian buyers who prefer French can read the guide de l’acheteur canadien en Floride.

A foreign seller’s sale usually triggers FIRPTA withholding. When a person who is not a U.S. resident for tax purposes later sells U.S. real property, the buyer generally must withhold part of the price for the IRS unless an exception or reduction applies. Planning for that at purchase, with a cross-border tax professional, avoids surprises years later.

Alexandra also works with Canadian owners when it is time to sell; see the Canadian seller guide and FIRPTA for Canadian sellers. For the full out-of-state purchase sequence, read buying from another state.