What State are your properties in?  My Mortgage guy can do 30% down loans for foreign investors

I personally have found the venture into US real estate extremely lucrative and continue to receive a very nice cash flow each month. Several who had me purchase for them are now selling and receiving more than double their money. Haven’t had any complaints.

There are a few Australians who post on this site who are living in the USA and helping others invest in property. Send a few emails out and I am sure you will receive replies.

When purchasing property it is best to purchase in the name of an LLC to give you some protection. A tenant should never know where the owner of any property lives and should only deal directly with the Proerty Manager. Law suits are rare and most tenants just want to get on with the business of life. Keep your property maintained and there is…[Read more]

What CL1706 said is about it. The second home must be for personal use only and not as an investment. I have a number of banks that will lend for investment purposes but the purchase needs to be in your personal name as your personal finances are used to qualify for the loan. Existing investment properties held in the USA can be used as a…[Read more]

Cath, I have heard that there is a time limit on when the first property must be purchased and the inventory is slim pickings. If you want to invest, speak to any of us here on the forum for guidance. I’ve been in Florida for 7 years now and have learnt many of the pitfalls. I almost always have new clients that have been stuffed around and now…[Read more]

All you need to do is not pay the annual fee. It will eventually become inactive without any hassle on your part.

Link worked thanks Peter.

I tried to sign up but received an error that Metting7 was an invalid code. In in the USA so maybe I can’t join

What a great idea Peter. I’m in the same business as you and am also appalled at what some investors have been put through.

We had been in construction all of our married life but were getting to the stage where things had to change as it’s tough on the body. I worked three days a week on the tools as well as doing the office work so am used to being busy. My husband also needed a change. I had the opportunity to go to Florida, came home and told my husband we were…[Read more]

Section 8 tenants have a variety of vouchers, number of bedrooms, well water, city water, tenant pays, owner pays. They receive a different amount depending on the terms the landlord dictates. A voucher is not always seen by a landlord but it is up to you to make sure the particular rental property is not more than the tenant qualifies for.…[Read more]

Is the tenant on a month to month lease or a fixed term? If fixed you cannot insist the tenant leave but some might if you offer them an incentive of some sort. If month to month you would be required to serve the tenant with a notice advising that the property is for sale. Make sure your Realtor serves the notice formally in case you need to do…[Read more]

A couple of observations:

Rentometer.com is only good as a guide and can be hundreds of dollars out. One of my properties rents for $1200 a month. Rentometer has it at $888, another is $800 a month but rentometer thinks its worth $600. Years ago rentometer was over estimating so its good to see they are now under as its a better tool to…[Read more]

This is unfortunately very true. I have found most Americans spend everything they earn and have “stuff” Eight TV sets is not uncommon. Everyone in the household goes to their room to watch what they want on TV and do not sit together as a family. I hope this is not a trend in Australia too.

Almost all of my tenants are late with rent if…[Read more]

For me, timing was for once right. We sold all of our furniture and everything else that was not screwed down and invested the lot. Am now set up for life and debt free. Own 10 houses in the USA