British Buyers Choose Michigan for Affordable Lakeside Homes and Auto Jobs
A new NAR report shows Michigan ranked third among U.S. states for UK home purchases, capturing 18% of British buyer activity between April 2025 and March 2026.
According to one outlet Association of Realtors' 2025 International Transactions in U.S. Residential Real Estate report, Michigan emerged as the third-most popular state for British homebuyers, accounting for 18% of all UK purchases nationwide between April 2025 and March 2026. Only California and Arizona attracted a larger share, with 36% and 27% respectively, while traditional markets such as Texas and South Carolina lagged at 9% each.
Realtor.com economist Jiayi Xu cites the combination of affordable lakefront living and the state's deep automotive sector, which offers relocation opportunities for UK professionals at firms like Ford and General Motors. British subsidiaries employ nearly 40,000 workers in Michigan, making the UK a leading source of foreign investment in the state. Brokers such as Jaye Sanders of Nextpointe Real Estate Service note that buyers often target waterfront condos priced $200,000-$250,000 or family homes in the $250,000-$400,000 range, valuing the low property taxes and proximity to the Great Lakes. The trend reflects both lifestyle appeal and business prospects, reinforcing Michigan’s growing role in international real-estate markets.
Why it matters
The surge shows how affordable U.S. regions can attract foreign investment and reshape local housing markets.
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