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Legal & Tax Referral Network

Every professional your investment needs. Already vetted. Already in place.

Foundry Property Group maintains a curated referral network of attorneys, CPAs, title companies, and insurance providers in Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Tampa Bay who specialize in working with international real estate investors.

The Problem

Finding reliable US professionals from overseas is one of the hardest parts of investing.

An international investor purchasing US rental property needs to work with at least four different professional service providers: a title company to search title and close the transaction, an attorney for contract review and entity guidance, a CPA for annual tax filing and FIRPTA planning, and an insurance provider for property coverage. Foundry Property Group maintains a vetted referral network covering all four categories in Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Tampa Bay.

The challenge is not that these professionals are hard to find in the US. There are thousands of attorneys, CPAs, and title companies. The challenge is finding ones who have actually worked with foreign-national buyers, understand the documentation requirements, know how to handle FIRPTA withholding at closing, and can communicate effectively across time zones.

Most overseas investors end up doing one of two things: they search Google and hope they find the right firm, or they ask whoever sold them the property for a recommendation. Neither approach is reliable. Foundry built a network so its investors never have to take that risk.

The Foundry referral network

Every provider in the network has been vetted by Foundry for competence, responsiveness, and direct experience with foreign-national real estate transactions.

T
Title and Closing Companies
Title companies that have closed foreign-national transactions and know how to handle the additional documentation, FIRPTA withholding, and wire instructions specific to overseas buyers. Available in all three Foundry markets.
They Handle
Title search and insurance, escrow management, closing coordination, FIRPTA withholding remittance to IRS, deed recording, HOA transfer documentation
A
Real Estate Attorneys
Attorneys who practice real estate and corporate law with a focus on international investors. They understand cross-border entity structures, purchase contract review for foreign buyers, and the specific liability considerations that matter to non-resident property owners.
They Handle
Purchase contract review, entity structure advisory, asset protection planning, lease compliance, dispute resolution, FIRPTA withholding certificate applications
C
CPAs for Non-Resident Tax Filing
Certified public accountants who file Form 1040-NR (non-resident alien income tax returns) as a core part of their practice. They handle ITIN applications, rental property depreciation schedules, treaty benefit analysis, and FIRPTA disposition planning.
They Handle
Annual 1040-NR filing, ITIN application, depreciation schedule setup, FIRPTA withholding certificates (Form 8288-B), tax treaty analysis, state compliance (if applicable)
I
Property Insurance Providers
Insurance agents and carriers who write landlord policies for non-owner-occupied rental properties. They understand the coverage requirements for new construction, the landlord policy structure (which differs from homeowner policies), and the specific considerations for Florida properties including wind and flood coverage.
They Handle
Landlord dwelling coverage, liability protection, loss of rental income coverage, wind/hurricane coverage (Florida), flood insurance assessment, builder warranty coordination

Why a vetted network matters

The wrong professional does not just cost money. It costs time, creates compliance risk, and can derail a transaction.

01
Foreign-national experience is not optional
A title company that has never closed a foreign-national transaction will not know how to handle FIRPTA withholding. A CPA who has never filed a 1040-NR will make mistakes on the depreciation schedule. Experience with international buyers is not a nice-to-have. It is the baseline requirement for every provider in the network.
02
Responsiveness across time zones
An investor in London is 5 to 6 hours ahead of Texas. An investor in Dubai is 8 to 9 hours ahead. If a title company only responds during Central Time business hours and the investor has a question at 7pm London time, they wait until the next day. Every provider in Foundry's network has demonstrated the ability to communicate effectively with overseas clients.
03
Foundry has worked with them before
These are not names pulled from a directory. Foundry has placed transactions with these providers, seen how they perform under real conditions, and knows who to call when something needs to be resolved quickly. The network is built on working relationships, not marketing partnerships.

How the referral process works

Foundry introduces you to the right provider at the right stage of the investment process. You hire and pay them directly.

Pre-Purchase: Entity and Tax Planning
Before you close on a property, Foundry puts you in front of a CPA to establish your tax structure and, if needed, an attorney for entity and asset protection guidance. This happens at the beginning, not after the first year of ownership when issues are harder to fix.
At Closing: Title and Insurance
Foundry coordinates with a title company in the property's market that has experience closing foreign-national transactions. Insurance is bound before closing through a provider who writes landlord policies for non-owner-occupied rental properties in the specific market.
Ongoing: Annual Tax Filing
Each year, your CPA prepares the Form 1040-NR using the income and expense data from your property manager. Foundry ensures the PM delivers the documentation your CPA needs. In the first year, the CPA also handles your ITIN application.
At Disposition: FIRPTA Planning
When you decide to sell, your CPA and attorney coordinate to file a withholding certificate (Form 8288-B) if applicable, structure the transaction to minimize tax liability, and ensure the title company handles FIRPTA remittance correctly at closing.

How fees work

Foundry provides the introduction. The service providers charge their own fees directly to the investor.

Foundry does not charge a referral fee to the investor.

The introductions to attorneys, CPAs, title companies, and insurance providers are part of the Foundry investment process. There is no additional fee from Foundry for these referrals.

Each service provider sets their own pricing. Typical ranges for Foundry's network providers:

CPA (annual 1040-NR filing): $500 to $1,500/year. Attorney (contract review, entity advisory): $300 to $500/hour or flat fee depending on scope. Title company (closing): $1,500 to $3,000 depending on transaction size and state. Insurance (annual landlord policy): $1,200 to $5,500/year depending on market and coverage level.

Foundry provides estimated service costs for your specific transaction before you commit to a property purchase, so there are no surprises in the total cost of investment.

Legal and tax questions

Common questions from international investors about legal and tax services for US rental property.

Does a foreign investor need a US attorney to buy rental property?
Not required in Texas, but Florida requires an attorney or title company to conduct the closing. Regardless of state, Foundry recommends international investors have an attorney review the purchase contract and advise on entity structure, particularly for first-time US property purchases. The cost is modest relative to the size of the investment and the protection it provides.
Can I use my own attorney or CPA instead of Foundry's network?
Yes. Foundry's referral network is a service, not a requirement. If you have an existing relationship with a US attorney or CPA experienced in foreign-national real estate transactions, you are welcome to use them. The network is most valuable for investors who do not already have these relationships in the US.
Does Foundry provide legal or tax advice?
No. Foundry provides general guidance on the investment process and entity formation as document preparation. Foundry does not provide legal advice, tax advice, or investment advice. For specific legal questions, tax planning, or investment suitability, Foundry refers investors to licensed attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors in the network.
What does title insurance protect against?
Undiscovered claims, liens, or defects in the property's title that existed before the purchase. This could include unpaid taxes by a prior owner, undisclosed heirs with ownership claims, forged documents, or recording errors. Title insurance is a one-time premium paid at closing and provides coverage for as long as you own the property.
How does Foundry select providers for the network?
Three criteria: demonstrated experience with foreign-national real estate transactions, responsiveness and communication quality with overseas clients across time zones, and competitive pricing relative to the market. The network is not a directory. It is a curated group of providers Foundry has worked with directly and can vouch for based on actual transaction experience.

Questions about the legal and tax side?

Understanding the professional services involved in US property investment is important. Foundry is available to walk you through what you need before you commit to anything.

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