A law restricting property ownership for non–U.S. citizens and non–U.S. permanent residents from select countries has brought legal and personal challenges to Chinese prospective homebuyers.
Signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) and put into effect in July 2023, the ban restricts citizens of “foreign countries of concern” from purchasing any agricultural land, a residence within 5 miles of a military base, or property within 10 miles of “critical infrastructure.”
WLRN wrote that “critical infrastructure” refers to power plants, water treatment plants, airports, and seaports.
China, according to the legislation, is one of seven “foreign countries of concern” affected by the property ownership restrictions, along with Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela, and Syria.
The bill also specifies that those involved with the Chinese Communist Party, Chinese political parties, and Chinese business groups may not “(purchase) or (acquire) any interest in real property in the state.”
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A lawsuit was filed in May regarding the law’s provisions, alleging that it violates equality provisions outlined in the Florida Constitution and the nation’s Fair Housing Act, according to WLRN.
A previous lawsuit addressed the law’s impacts on four Chinese citizens, three of whom were confirmed as living, working, and raising families in Florida, a circuit judge told Reuters. This case is still under review.
The law is also affecting those seeking mortgages from the bank, as Teresa Jin, a mortgage lender, told CNN she now only works with U.S. citizens and permanent residents due to ambiguity in the bill’s wording.
While the bill does not target those with green cards, permanent residents like Susan Li have reported housing discrimination since July. She stopped looking for a house after the bill passed, according to The Daily Mail.
“No matter if I have a green card or I’m a citizen, I still have a Chinese face,” she said. “I really felt the discrimination.”
Jin Bian, who is also a Florida resident, decided not to search for property after being told he and the seller could be imprisoned for violating the law, The Daily Mail reported.
“We’re ordinary people. We don’t talk about these political things,” he said. “I think 99.99 percent of people here just want to have a good life.”
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