Buying in Davenport or Champions Gate From Abroad: A Guide

Buyers from Canada, the United Kingdom, Brazil and other countries can purchase a home in Davenport or Champions Gate, and most of the work happens before you ever fly in. The steps that matter are how you will pay, how you will hold title, what Florida asks every buyer to sign at closing, and what the IRS expects when a foreign owner sells later. This guide walks through each one so you can plan from home.

The market gives you some room to plan. As of November 2026, the latest Redfin figures cover September 2026: 115 homes sold in Davenport that month, up from 104 a year earlier, and the median home sat 60 days before selling. Redfin also reports that Davenport homes typically sell for about 1% below list price. These are Redfin aggregator figures, not Stellar MLS data, and they describe the Davenport city area as a whole.

Why Overseas Buyers Look at Davenport and Champions Gate

Both areas sit along the I-4 corridor southwest of Orlando, close to the theme parks, which is why so many owners from abroad use a home here for family holidays. Champions Gate is in Osceola County and is built around resort amenities and golf. Davenport is in Polk County and offers a wider mix of single-family homes, townhomes and newer subdivisions.

The county matters more than the mailing address. Two homes a few miles apart can fall under different county rules for property tax, permits and short-term rental registration. Before you fall for a listing, confirm the county and ask whether the community allows the use you have in mind, whether that is personal holidays, long-term renting or nightly rentals.

Paying for the Home: Cash or a Foreign National Loan

Many international buyers pay cash, which keeps the timeline simple. If you plan to finance, look for a lender that offers foreign national mortgage programs. Requirements differ by lender, so expect to discuss down payment, proof of income from your home country, reserves held in a US account and how documents will be translated.

Start the lender conversation early. Moving money across borders takes time, and your bank may need extra steps for a large transfer. Plan for the earnest money deposit and the closing funds to arrive on separate dates. Always confirm wiring instructions by phone with the title company at a number you found yourself, never one sent in an email.

Taxpayer Numbers, Title and What Florida Asks You to Sign

The IRS issues an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to people who need a US taxpayer number but are not eligible for a Social Security number. If you will rent the home out or sell it later, ask your tax advisor whether you need one and when to apply.

You will also decide how to hold title: in your own name, jointly or through an entity. Each choice has tax, estate and liability effects in both countries, so make that decision with an attorney and an accountant before the contract is signed.

Florida adds one step every buyer should know about. Under section 692.204 of the Florida Statutes, a buyer of real property in Florida must sign an affidavit at the time of purchase attesting that they are not a restricted person or entity under that section, or that they qualify for its exception. The same chapter limits purchases by certain foreign governments and by some people domiciled in specific countries, including the People's Republic of China. Buyers from Canada, the UK and Brazil are typically signing to confirm they are not covered. Your title company will provide the form, and an attorney can review any question about whether the rules apply to you.

Property Taxes and the Homestead Exemption

Florida's homestead exemption can reduce a home's taxable value by as much as $50,000, according to the Florida Department of Revenue, and it qualifies the home for the Save Our Homes assessment limit. It is available only when the owner makes the property their permanent residence or the permanent residence of a dependent.

A holiday home owned from abroad usually does not meet that test. Budget for the full property tax bill without the exemption, and ask the county property appraiser's office for an estimate based on the purchase price, since a new owner's assessment can differ from what the seller paid.

Planning Ahead for the Day You Sell

When a foreign person sells US real property, the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (FIRPTA) generally requires the buyer to withhold 15% of the amount realized and send it to the IRS. The IRS describes reduced withholding or an exception in some cases when the buyer will use the home as a residence and the price is $1 million or less. Ask a tax advisor how that withholding interacts with the US tax return you will file for the sale.

This affects your plans today. If you expect to sell within a few years, talk to a cross-border tax advisor now about records to keep, rental income reporting and how withholding could affect your cash at closing.

How Bella Trae Realty Helps Buyers From Abroad

Bella Trae Realty works with buyers who are shopping from another country. We can tour homes by video, confirm the county and community rules for each address, and coordinate with your lender, title company, attorney and tax advisor so each step happens on time. If you plan to rent the home, our property management team can explain what ownership looks like while you are away.

This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change, and your situation is specific to you, so confirm details with a Florida real estate attorney and a cross-border tax professional.

Contact Bella Trae Realty today to start your Davenport or Champions Gate search from wherever you are.

Sources: Redfin Davenport FL housing market, September 2026 data, retrieved November 2026; Florida Statutes section 692.204; IRS FIRPTA Withholding and ITIN pages; Florida Department of Revenue property tax exemptions page. Photo: "ChampionsGate Arches" by Freeholdman12, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.