Buying the American Dream: Using Immigration Law to Bolster the Housing Market
48 Pages Posted: 23 Nov 2014 Last revised: 17 Jan 2015
Date Written: November 21, 2014
Abstract
Escaping notice in debate about immigration reform is a proposal that would give residency visas to foreign nationals on the condition that they buy an expensive home. Proponents see visas as a simple way to shore up the U.S. housing market. Yet complications abound. This Article scrutinizes the history, logic, economics, and morals of the proposed homebuyer visa, as well as its intersection with state laws that restrict foreign ownership of land.
Keywords: immigration, property, visa, housing, retirement, economics, legislation
JEL Classification: K1, K10, K11, K37, R21, R31
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation