To many, Bay Area real estate seems like a bargain right now. Prices are still some of the lowest in years, and foreign nationals, among others, are paying cash -- sometimes millions of dollars in cash -- for property in San Francisco area communities.

As I explain in a new guide, U.S. Gift Tax and Estate Tax Planning for Non-Residents and Non-Citizens, such investments are at risk if the buyer is a non-citizen or non-resident without a sound strategy to minimize gift taxes and/or estate taxes. The guide outlines key elements in an international estate plan, including:

• What is considered “home” for the purpose of estate planning?

• How the tax law treats citizens, non-citizens, and non-residents differently

• Treatment of minor children, including issues surrounding the choice and citizenship of a guardian

• One useful estate planning tool, the Qualified Domestic Trust

U.S. gift tax and estate tax laws are tough on non-citizens

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