More Americans than ever are purchasing property outside the United States — in the UK, Spain, Portugal, and Italy — as a deliberate strategy to diversify beyond the dollar. John Eric, founder of the Luxury Collective Global Advisory, has been guiding that move for decades. In this interview from a REALM event in Scottsdale, he shares exactly how it works, what most buyers get wrong, and why Florida residents are uniquely positioned to make the leap.
At a recent REALM gathering in Scottsdale, Arizona, Allison Richards sat down with John Eric — a man who flew in directly from London via Washington, D.C. — to talk through one of the most compelling shifts in luxury real estate right now.
Americans are moving their capital internationally. And the process is less complicated than most assume, if you have the right team.
John Eric leads the Luxury Collective Global Advisory, a platform that just announced its expansion into four markets: London, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, and New York. His niche is narrow, deliberate, and increasingly in demand: helping Americans navigate the purchase of property in London.
Here is what he shared.
Who Is John Eric and What Is the Luxury Collective Global Advisory?
John Eric's path to running a global real estate advisory was not linear. He spent years working in D.C. politics and media — a career that put him in proximity to the kind of client who operates across multiple cities and countries simultaneously.
London came next. He describes a "30-year love affair" with the city, one that predates his real estate career. By the time he began selling property there, he had already built a life in the city. He knew it as a resident, not just a market participant.
That personal depth informed the firm's positioning.
The Luxury Collective Global Advisory does not try to serve everyone. It serves Americans who want to buy in London, with a support structure that extends into D.C., Los Angeles, and New York — the cities where those buyers already live.
The advisory announced its formal expansion into all four markets at the Scottsdale REALM event where this interview took place.
Why Americans Are Buying Property in London Right Now
The trend is measurable. There has been a significant and accelerating increase in Americans purchasing real estate outside the United States — with the UK, Spain, Portugal, and Italy leading the volume.
The driver is not lifestyle alone. It is capital strategy.
Many buyers are motivated by a deliberate intent to diversify out of the US dollar. London real estate, priced in sterling and governed by a distinct legal and tax structure, offers that separation.
For buyers who already hold significant US-denominated assets — equities, private businesses, domestic real estate — an international purchase represents both a hedge and a lifestyle upgrade.
John Eric is explicit about this when working with clients. His advisory does not just ask where someone wants to live. It asks why, and what the 5-, 10-, or 15-year plan looks like. The property decision follows from that conversation.
How the Four Markets Connect: D.C., London, LA, and New York
The Luxury Collective's market footprint did not expand arbitrarily. Each city feeds the next through client relationships.
John Eric's D.C. roots gave him access to a politically connected, internationally mobile clientele. That client base had consistent overlap with London — diplomats, policy professionals, financiers, and government-adjacent executives who move between the two cities with regularity.
London, in turn, opened the door to entertainment industry clients in Los Angeles and New York. Major studios — including Amazon Prime and Netflix — have established significant UK footprints in recent years, and the talent and executive movement that follows creates a specific kind of buyer: financially sophisticated, accustomed to cross-border complexity, and in need of a single advisory relationship that understands every market in the picture.
John Eric's role is continuity. He is the consistent point of contact across all four cities, ensuring that the strategic advisory perspective does not fragment when a client moves between markets.
What It Means to "Speak American" in London Real Estate
Building a team in London requires more than local knowledge. John Eric is deliberate about the phrase he uses: his London team must "speak American."
This is not a language requirement. It is a translation requirement.
UK real estate processes differ substantially from American norms — in terminology, timeline, legal structure, and pace. British property transactions can move at a cadence that feels unfamiliar, and sometimes frustratingly slow, to US buyers accustomed to domestic contract timelines.
His London-based staff are selected specifically for their ability to translate the UK process into American terms, without condescension, and to work at the pace US clients expect.
Beyond process fluency, John Eric looks for team members who share a specific value orientation: client-first communication, high-touch service delivery, and the professionalism that characterizes what he calls "white glove" advisory work.
The operational criteria matter because the experience does. A client buying in an unfamiliar market, in a foreign legal system, with significant capital on the line has no tolerance for confusion or miscommunication.
The Tax and Compliance Reality No One Talks About
Purchasing property outside the United States is not just a real estate decision. It is a tax event — one that implicates both the Internal Revenue Service and, for UK purchases, His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
The compliance requirements are substantial and often underestimated. Americans holding foreign property face ongoing reporting obligations, and the rules governing ownership structures, rental income, and eventual sale proceeds are not intuitive.
John Eric's advisory does not attempt to navigate this alone. Instead, it has built what he describes as a "toolbox" — a vetted ecosystem of solicitors and tax advisors who specialize in US-UK cross-border compliance.
The recommendation for any buyer considering an international purchase: secure that advisory team before you make an offer, not after.
The cost of getting it wrong — in penalties, restructuring fees, or missed planning opportunities — significantly exceeds the cost of proper counsel at the outset.
Why Florida Buyers Are Especially Well-Positioned
Not every US state creates equal conditions for an international property purchase. Florida does.
John Eric specifically identifies Florida as one of the most attractive originating states for buyers considering UK real estate. The reasons are structural.
Florida has no state income tax. For a buyer earning rental income from a London property, or realizing a gain on sale, the absence of state-level income tax changes the net return calculus in a meaningful way.
The lifestyle alignment is also real. Florida buyers, particularly along the Emerald Coast and 30A corridor, are already accustomed to thinking of real estate as a combination of lifestyle asset and investment vehicle. The leap to international property is less conceptual for someone who already owns a second home on 30A than it might be for a buyer elsewhere.
For Allison Richards and The Richards Group, this is directly relevant territory. A meaningful share of the team's clientele holds or is building significant equity in Emerald Coast real estate. The next asset diversification conversation — whether into international markets or additional domestic positions — is one they are equipped to support, and increasingly, to connect.
FAQ: Americans Buying Real Estate in London
Why are Americans buying real estate in London in 2025 and 2026?
The primary driver is capital diversification. With significant wealth concentrated in US-denominated assets, many high-net-worth Americans are seeking exposure to foreign-currency-denominated real estate as a hedge. London specifically offers stability, legal transparency, and strong long-term asset performance. Lifestyle factors — particularly for clients in entertainment, finance, and government — are a secondary but consistent motivator.
What is the process for an American buying property in the UK?
The UK property purchase process differs from US norms in key ways: there is no binding contract at offer acceptance, the legal transfer process runs through solicitors rather than title companies, and timelines typically run longer than American buyers expect. Working with an advisory team that can translate this process into familiar terms and manage the pace gap is essential for a smooth transaction.
Do Americans pay taxes in both the US and UK when buying property in London?
Yes. US citizens are taxed on worldwide income regardless of where they live, which means rental income and capital gains from a UK property are reportable to the IRS. Buyers also have obligations under HMRC for UK property income and gains. A US-UK tax specialist is not optional — it is a prerequisite for structuring the purchase intelligently.
What type of advisors do I need before buying international real estate?
At minimum: a real estate advisor with direct market experience and a US-client-oriented team, a UK solicitor, and a tax advisor with US-UK cross-border expertise. These advisors should be engaged before any offer is made, not after.
Why is Florida considered a strong home base for international real estate investors?
Florida's lack of state income tax is the primary structural advantage. Net returns on foreign rental income and property sales are materially better when state income tax is not a factor. Combined with an existing culture of second-home and investment property ownership, Florida buyers tend to be well-positioned both financially and philosophically for international acquisitions.
What does the Luxury Collective Global Advisory do?
The Luxury Collective Global Advisory, led by John Eric, advises American clients on real estate purchases across London, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, and New York. The firm's primary specialty is helping US buyers navigate London's property market, including the legal, cultural, and compliance complexity that comes with cross-border transactions. The advisory also extends into commercial and retail assets for qualified clients.
The Broader Picture
The conversation with John Eric reflects something Allison has observed in her own market: the most sophisticated buyers are thinking in portfolios, not transactions.
A second home on 30A is often one node in a larger asset strategy. For clients building wealth across domestic and international real estate, having advisors who can speak to the full picture — and who have relationships with specialists when the conversation goes beyond their own geography — is not a luxury. It is the standard of care.
The Richards Group's membership in REALM is one expression of that commitment. Relationships with global advisors like John Eric are another.
If your real estate thinking is expanding beyond the Emerald Coast, we would be glad to be part of that conversation.
Interview conducted at the REALM Summit, Scottsdale, Arizona. Allison Richards is principal of The Richards Group, a Wall Street Journal RealTrends Verified team ranked among the top 6% of small teams in Florida, with $450M+ in lifetime sales production. The Richards Group operates through Compass at 2048 West County Highway 30A, Suite 107, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459.
