Today’s migrants differ from past waves of newcomers because many maintain even closer ties to their sending country. These connections, which can be defined as “transnational”, may be emotional but may also take physical shape. In particular, return migration and remittance payments may influence the housing choices migrants and their kin make in the host country and in the
sending country. Because “home” expresses identity, prosperity, and investment decisions, it is important to gain an understanding of how transnational migration influences housing preferences. The number of Dominican migrants in the United States continues to grow along with the funds they are transferring to families and relations in the Dominican Republic through remittance payments. Anecdotal evidence suggests that a significant portion of remittances flows towards housing. However, an empirical study of data gathered by the Latin American Migration Project does not show that remittances are not directly impacting housing investment decisions even though qualitative studies suggest the opposite. Future research should try to address the disconnect between current data and determine how housing preferences are driven by the migrant experience.