Whether you’re selling farmland, development land, or recreational property, the United States has plenty of potential buyers. However, the real estate market is volatile and requires a lot of research. Investing in US land is a great way to generate long term returns and build wealth. It is also a stable investment because land is tangible and holds value over time.

The country’s strong economy and sound policies make it a favorable location for investing in long term assets like land. In addition, our legal system protects private property rights. That’s why many foreign investors are interested in purchasing land in the United States.

However, some lawmakers are worried about the impact of this trend on US security. They point to the fact that the purchase of agricultural US Land Buyers by foreign entities is often secretive and difficult to monitor. They are concerned that these purchases could pose a threat to national security, especially if the land is located near military installations. The House has passed an amendment to an annual defense bill that would restrict the sale of land to foreign adversaries, such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

For example, one of the biggest landowners in the state of Michigan is a Canadian company called Syngenta. The company is involved in agricultural research and produces seeds and chemicals used to grow food and crops. The company claims that its research is done on its land in the US and provides jobs for American farmers. However, the company has not disclosed its ownership of land to the USDA. As a result, it is impossible to know how much of the state’s farmland is owned by a foreign entity.

In other cases, foreign owners of US land have been linked to the Chinese government, which is allegedly attempting to control America’s food supply and spy on the nation’s critical infrastructure. This worry has sparked a wave of proposed legislation at both the state and federal level, including laws that would restrict or more effectively monitor foreign ownership of U.S. land.

Another recent concern centered on the purchase of a 370-acre parcel of farmland in North Dakota by a company that reportedly has links to the Chinese Communist Party. The purchase raised concerns about national security because it is located close to the Grand Forks Air Force Base. Although this company is not listed on the USDA’s list of foreign-owned land, it has purchased other properties in North Dakota.

While lawmakers in dozens of statehouses and Congress have been raising concerns about the rise of Chinese ownership of U.S. land, it is important to remember that foreign ownership of land is only a tiny fraction of the total. In fact, according to USDA data from 2021, Chinese-owned land accounted for less than 1% of all land in the United States. Regardless, it is imperative to vet potential buyers thoroughly to avoid dealing with unethical individuals and companies. This includes checking required real estate licenses and memberships, requesting client references, and researching company history.