Florida Ban on Chinese Nationals Buying Homes Survives Suit (1)

A Florida law barring non-citizens from purchasing homes or other property in the state has survived a bid to block it in federal district court.

The plaintiffs, including holders of H-1B specialty occupation visas and an Orlando-based real estate firm, haven’t shown a substantial likelihood of success on their challenge to the law, Judge Allen Winsor of the US District Court for the Northern District of Florida found Thursday.

The law bars non-citizens whose “domicile” is China from buying property in Florida. A similar, less restrictive rule applies to people whose permanent residence is in Cuba, Venezuela, Iran, and several ...