It's one of the most repeated questions among people thinking about investing in the United States: does buying property here open the way to a green card? On the episode, the subject comes up in passing, with a mention of the one million dollar threshold and the role of equity — the share of the property already paid off. Since this is immigration, the topic calls for the full version.

The honest answer: buying a house in the United States, on its own, does not get you a green card. There is indeed a residency-by-investment path — the EB-5 — but it works differently, and understanding the difference keeps you from making a financial decision for the wrong reason.

What the EB-5 requires, by the letter of the program

• Invest in a new commercial enterprise (new commercial enterprise) — a business operating for profit. It can be your own company or a project through an accredited regional center .
• Create or preserve at least 10 jobs full-time, for American workers, documented within the program's timeframe.
• Contribute the minimum amount: US$1,050,000, or US$800,000 if the investment sits in a targeted employment area — a rural or high-unemployment area. These figures were set by the 2022 reform and are adjusted periodically.
• Document the lawful source of the money, with a complete paper trail.
• Keep the capital at risk for the required period — a guaranteed investment or one with assured returns disqualifies the program.

None of these requirements is met by buying a residence to live in. A home is not a business, it employs no one and it puts no capital at productive risk.

And what about equity? Where appreciation comes in — and where it doesn't

The point raised on the episode has a real basis, but in a different place on the ledger. Equity is the portion of the property that is already yours: market value minus what's left to pay. If the house has appreciated, that wealth can be turned into cash — by selling the property or by refinancing with cash-out.

That money, once available and with a documented source, can fund an investment that qualifies for the EB-5. In other words: the property can be the source of the capital, never the qualifying investment itself. Appreciation doesn't count as a contribution; it only becomes one after it turns into money placed in a business that creates jobs.

The distinction is not a bureaucratic detail. It completely changes the strategy of anyone planning ahead: buying a house hoping the appreciation will “turn into” permanent residency is a plan that doesn't hold up.

Why the figures being quoted vary

The episode mentions that the threshold “used to be 500 thousand dollars”. That's correct: until 2022, the program's reduced tier was US$500 thousand. The reform that year raised the minimums to the current amounts and provided for periodic inflation adjustments. That's why any number stated today needs to be re-checked on the date of the decision — including the ones in this article.

Also subject to frequent change: processing times, per-country backlogs by place of birth, rules for regional centers and the criteria for documenting jobs.

The responsible path

Immigration and mortgage financing are two distinct fields, with distinct professionals. A mortgage broker is the right person to tell you whether you can finance a property; the person who answers visa questions is a licensed immigration attorney. Purchase decisions made on the expectation of a green card tend to be expensive at both ends.

If the main goal is permanent residency, start with the legal consultation and only then design the financial side. If the goal is to own property in the United States, the path is financing — and it works very well on its own, with no promise of any immigration document.

This article is informational and does not replace legal, accounting or licensed mortgage advice. Rules, amounts and rates change; confirm the current version before making any decision.

Sources and verification

• Cadê Moradia episode with Rafael Na (June 2026) — the mention of the one-million-dollar threshold and the role of equity, presented on the show in summary form.
• Notice published by the production itself in the episode description: information about visas is informational in nature, and buying or gaining appreciation on property does not, on its own, guarantee obtaining a green card.
• EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program (USCIS) — requirements for a new commercial enterprise, creation of ten full-time jobs and proof of the lawful source of funds.
• EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 — setting the minimum amounts of US$1,050,000 and US$800,000 in targeted employment areas, with periodic adjustment.

Watch this part of the episode:

How real estate investment can help with the Green Card (EB-5) — starting at 4:34 · CADÊ BRAZIL