Brazil topped the list of foreign countries searching for Miami real estate in January, according to the Miami Association of Realtors.
The association compared the number of visits to its website in January of this year to January 2014, and found that Brazilian traffic surpassed Venezuelans, who fell three places from their top spot in the list last year.
Brazil was followed by Colombia, which rose three spots from last year; Russia, which didn’t make the top 10 in January of last year; and Venezuela.
The association said visitors searching for real estate in Miami has increased almost 40 percent from January of last year, with a new mix of foreign buyers from South America and Europe.
“The Miami real estate market continues to attract buyers and investors from around the world,” said Christopher Zoller, 2015 Miami residential president, in a statement. “Miami remains affordable compared to other world-class, global cities and offers many benefits and amenities, including strategic location, moderate year-round weather, multicultural environment, and an exciting lifestyle.”
Despite talk of growing Chinese interest in South Florida, China wasn’t included on the list this year and last. Chinese businessman Dr. Shanjie Lie is aiming to change that with his new real estate venture American Da Tang Realty, which launched last month. The company will focus on aiding the Chinese elite purchase real estate in Miami. — Sean Stewart-Muniz