What entities can a foreigner own and do real investing in

Hello all.

I’m a canadian citizen living in Canada. I’m wondering if any of you know which entities that I–as a foreigner–am allowed to own?

I’m wondering if I were to flip houses in an entity (say an LLC) would that be considered illegally running a business for me? i.e. foreigners typically need some kind of visa to do business.

Would the scenario differ if I had an american partner who also owned the LLC?

Thank

HJ

yes

An alien individual may conduct his or her real estate business in the United States as an individual owner of real property, as a partner in a partnership, as a member of a limited liability company or as a shareholder of a corporation either foreign or domestic.

If I wanted to set up a multinational company e.g. say a company headquartered in the US but has a satellite\affiliate office in Canada, can I use any entity or does it have to be a specific type, say a C-corp?

I’ve also been told I cannot own an S-corp because I do not have permanent residency in the US.

(i’m currently residing in Canada)

I don’t know what Canada’s laws on such an arrangment might be.

Yes, S-corp rules are funny sometimes.

Hi Mark-

Following your response, I was told by a commercial broker that in order for a foreigner to own real estate in the U.S., it has to be held in the form of a C corporation, is that true? If that is indeed the case, then the tax burden would be doubled?

thanks,
MeiLin

An alien individual may conduct his or her real estate business in the United States as an individual owner of real property, as a partner in a partnership, as a member of a limited liability company or as a shareholder of a corporation either foreign or domestic.

Just not an S-corp.