Sixty-five percent of Realtors who participated in the survey conducted during July and August said they had worked with an international buyer during the preceding 12 months. Twenty-two percent said they worked with two and 18 percent said they worked with three. About 25 percent said they had an international client who bought a home.

Half of Realtors with international business said those clients accounted for 25 percent or less of their business, while 15 percent said those buyers accounted for half of their business. About one-third of Realtors surveyed said their international business had risen in the last five years.

The survey showed that Canada still had the biggest share of international business, at 36 percent. Western Europe accounted for 29 percent of sales and Latin America, 16 percent. A total of 19 percent came from Eastern Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa and the Middle East.

Most of these foreign buyers -- 89 percent -- bought an existing home. About one third bought a condominium.

Thirty-eight percent of purchases were in the suburbs, 30 percent were in a "resort area" and 25 percent were in a central city or other urban area.

Pricing showed some of the same trends as domestic buyers, who, at least in Southwest Florida, have concentrated on the $200,000-and-under market.

Thirty-three percent of purchases were in the $100,000-to -$199,999 price range; 24 percent in the $99,999-or-less range and 18 percent in the $200,000-to- $299,999 level. About 3 percent of foreign buyers purchased a home of $1 million or more. The median purchase price was $180,000.

In another similarity with the domestic real estate market, cash was king, with 81 percent of buyers paying cash with no mortgage financing.

This region was the third biggest destination for foreign buyers, at 13 percent. Tops was the Orlando-Kissimmee market (18 percent) and Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Miami Beach (17 percent).

The Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice market was tops for Canadian buyers, at 18 percent. The region ranked second among United Kingdom buyers at 15 percent, fourth among buyers from Western Europe at 9 percent and third among those from Latin America at 6 percent.

The biggest inhibition for buyers had little to do with the economy: it was immigration laws that prevent foreigners from living in the United States year-round, at 29 percent. Property taxes were second at 28 percent and not finding the right property was 21 percent.

Insurance was the fourth-highest reason cited at 20 percent, while cost affected only 17 percent.

Eighty-one percent of Realtors surveyed reported that their international clients said properties in Florida were less expensive than their home country.

The survey, conducted by the National Association of Realtors in cooperating with Florida Realtors, included 936 responses.