Overview

• On July 10, Reddit user smokyskyline cautioned that tech sector layoffs and shifting visa rules could leave H-1B holders unable to service mortgages if they lose their jobs.
• Netizen responses vary, with some calling homeownership a “money pit” and others noting that fixed-rate loans and regional price growth can make buying worthwhile.
• Elevated U.S. mortgage rates mean early payments skew heavily toward interest, reducing equity gains and increasing financial strain for transient workers.
• Buy-versus-rent decisions hinge on location, with visa holders in markets from Texas and the Bay Area to Atlanta and Chicago suburbs weighing long-term equity against flexibility.
• Returning H-1B holders who become non-resident non-citizens face U.S. estate taxes up to 40% on assets over $60,000, adding another risk to home investments.