biggaz13 wrote:
I read somewhere that if you seek capital growth then Texas is a really good price to seek it. But your entry cost is substantially higher since a lot more people are competing for the properties. If you seek positive cash flow then you seek outside Texas.Perhaps a good balanced strategy is one property in Texas and two chea…[Read more]

petejac1 wrote:
It's a big call to say Dallas is the place to be, you are aware how big the US is?Morpheusbushy, I felt exactly the same way.  I recently completed TLD International's Mastermind training in Florida and I now have a greater understanding of the whole buying process in Florida if not the states, as every state is slightly…[Read more]

Hey just be aware that TX is a non disclosure state so sites like Zillow & Trulia do not work as well as other states
Zillow actually states this if you dig into their sites. I am actually in Dallas right now and getting a couple of deals
done this week

RickH wrote:
there will always be a mark up if a company buys and renovates to on sell. They will always add the renovation cost as well as a margin (profit).I believe they do make good money on reselling but you are paying for the service and also it seems they work the prices out to achieve a gross return somewhere between 10 and 15%. My…[Read more]

Russ,Nothing beats being able to leverage in the US and yes the finance I have lined up is through a local Dallas lender. The property prices I am looking at range from $50K to $90K & Yes I also made the trip over in October as well…..mostly because I wanted to see for myself first hand and meet the people I would deal with face to face…gave…[Read more]

Kenny,Guarantee that you will find this quite common. They will tell you stories like Zillow or Trulia is out of date, were renovated since, blah, blah, blah. <moderator: delete language> I think you would find plenty of info on MyUSAProperty in these forums which will give you the right idea. They will also suggest that financing is easy t…[Read more]

Just sent the email with contact details now James

James,Tried to send you a PM….with the name of a NZ broker that is excellent to work with an experienced n dealing with investors but your profile doesn't accept emails

Hey Russ,a) You can raise cash through the equity in your own home here in Australia and effectively then become a cash buyer in the US. An Australian bank is not able to lend you funds using a US property as securityORb) raise cash through the equity in your own home here in Australia to use as a deposit and get the rest of the funding from a US…[Read more]

Adam2011 wrote:

speedy gonzales wrote:
Hi RickH & Biggaz,Congratulations to the both you on your purchases. Rick…I had been following you from the beginning….determination on your part got you there in the end. I can appreciate that most people don't have the time, the resources or the ability to invest in US property themselves so there…[Read more]

Hey Portpirate,In my opinion….if they are so uncontactable now…..imagine what it's going to be like after the purchase (if you get there). Reading the posts….seems to be a common denominator with them.Why are you so keen to buy from them specifically ? Is is the fact they are Aussies so you feel you can trust them or is it that they are…[Read more]

PropertInvestor wrote:
Anyone able to get FINANCE for USA property ?

Hi Propertyinvestor,Let me make it clear….I am not offering to get US finance…not in the business. As an Aussie investing in the US market I sidestepped all the buyers agents and went to the US myself to do the groundwork. For my first property I purchased in the north of…[Read more]

Younginvestor,I used to work in real estate/finance/marketing in Phoenix from 2001-2005 so I saw first had the boom beginning to take place….crazy times. I  am an active investor in US real estate and am heading to DFW in 2 weeks time to purchase another property. Personally I would stay clear of Phoenix for quite some time yet….I have many…[Read more]

Hi Natasha,

I flew into Gladstone last Wednesday to see the Gladstone market first hand for myself. I had a good friend of mine buy a house & land package in Gladstone last Sept and the home is being handed over this week so I did the inspection on behalf of my friend. (A formal building inspection was also done by a licensed builder)
Gave me a…[Read more]

Hi RickH & Biggaz,Congratulations to the both you on your purchases. Rick…I had been following you from the beginning….determination on your part got you there in the end. I can appreciate that most people don't have the time, the resources or the ability to invest in US property themselves so there is a reason why most will go to the Aussie…[Read more]

It's not what the loan is secured by which determines it's deductibility….it's the purpose of the loan funds that determines whether or not the ATO will allow deductibility. So if you use all of the home equity loan to fund a deposit for an investment property then you should be okay. Just be mindful no personal income or expenses go through the…[Read more]

Hi Bigaz13,Litigation is one aspect of why it helps having the property in the name of the LLC. A second reason which nobody has mentioned in this forum is the impact of FIRPTA (Foreign Investment In Real Property Tax Act) Withholding Tax. This applies not only to the sale of the property but also to the rental income you receive as a foreign…[Read more]

Hi Steve,I suggest you at least contact USTaxCentral. James Simango based in Brisbane is a US & Australian CPA so he can assist with the US returns and also how it impacts on your Australian returns. He fully understands US real estate investing issues, LLC's etc.I'll point out that I am not associated with the company or it's directors…just…[Read more]

Hi Leo,If you are Australian and meet a few requirements (no criminal record etc) you can travel to the US on a Visa Waiver programme that entitles you to stay in the US for up to 90 days at a time. Don't forget that you need to do register with the Dept of Homeland at least 72 hours prior to departing and get travel authorisation…costs about…[Read more]

Hi 1 EyeOpenI would be interested in your views on why you would invest in Cleveland….not to make any criticism's at all….just curious from one investor to another.As of the 2000 census the city itself had a population of 478,403 and was the 33rd largest city in the US. The cities population has been shrinking since it peaked at 914,808 in…[Read more]