Managing from overseas...

[Michael Ross]

I am currently in the foreign service and a Marine reservist. I have my money diversified between my Thrift Savings Plan (maxing out), investments with my in-laws construction business overseas, an S&P 500 SPDR, and a healthy savings. I will be working at one our embassies next year in the Middle East and want to know how difficult it will be to manage a property from a far. Most of my career in the military has been overseas and the foreign service will be more of the same. Right now I am looking at Metro-Detroit to do AirBNB which I have done in the past next to the Pentagon. I am also looking at a traditional rental property in Tampa/St. Pete which will be near MacDill AFB. I anticipate that property management can handle somethings, but do I physically need to be near to get in the game? The wife and I also just purchased a plot of land in The Philippines in a resort area and have plans to build on it later (Tagaytay Highlands). 

[Andy Mirza]

@Michael Ross I was a security contractor for 13 years and I still have 19 rentals that I picked up in 2011-2013. During my time home, I was able to buy these condos at trustee sale and transition them to rentals. The key was having a great business partner and a great team to manage the properties. IMO, to set things up properly and solidify your relationships, you should spend time on the ground in the area you want to have your properties in. The next best thing is to have a solid business partner back home that can fill in for you if and when it's needed. Once everything is set up properly, it's not so difficult dealing with spotty internet, lack of notarial services, and different time zones. Technology is making long distance problems easier and easier to deal with.

Although I still have those rentals and they are headache free for me now, it wasn't always so and I'm not planning to buy more. I love notes and they are much more passive and easier to manage from abroad. Invest in a note fund or commmercial real estate syndication and it's even more passive.