Texas Foreign Real Estate Ownership Restrictions In Effect

Overview

On September 1, 2025, Texas implemented new restrictions on real estate ownership by certain foreign individuals and entities through Senate Bill (SB) 17, codified as Texas Property Code Subchapter H (Sections 5.251–5.259). The law prohibits certain individuals and entities connected to "designated countries" from purchasing or acquiring interests in any real property in Texas. Designated countries include China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, countries designated by the Texas governor, and countries identified by the US director of national intelligence as posing a risk to the national security of the United States. The Texas law may affect not only traditional real property owners and investors but also investors and potential acquirers of any business with operations in the state of Texas.