Isn't there like 30% immediate tax that is required to be withheld by the agent and then later buyer is responsible to file a return to attempt to get that money back? I am sure some do, but for the rest - it looks like it is a price paid to the USA for the privilege of owning real estate there.
Local LLC owned by an offshore corp. Buy/sell the offshore corp, ergo no change in an US ownerships and poof, no withholdings. Actually, I think you can skip the LLC part.
That becomes an issue if you want to later sell to a local, but if it's unaffordable to locals, who cares.
Might be a non-issue if there's a tax-treaty reduction on withholding if the US was dumb enough to sign one with a tax haven (Canada does with Barbados and Bermuda) and you form the corp there.
