Buying Properties in France (or other countries)

[Account Closed]

I've been investing in the States for years now and my wife and I have a goal of owning a house in Bordeaux, France (we went on a trip there just before I proposed and we loved it). 

What are the similarities and differences in buying properties in different countries? 

[Mike Lambert]

@Taylor L.

I don't know if such saying exists but I'd agree to it.

However, I have been investing internationally for a few years now and I totally disagree with your assertion that "investing in the US makes much more sense due to better pricing, cash flows and landlord-tenant laws" (which is can be partially true depending on which US state you compare with which foreign country and what strategy you follow).

Making generalizations like that is generally very unhelpful, especially when they are based on discussions that you've had with one single person (as opposed to your own experience or that of many other people). If you had to to a more scientific comparison based on facts and figures and/or investing internationally yourself, you might come to a very different conclusion.

I'll give it to you that it's much easier and it might make more sense for many if not most US-based investors to invest in the US. However, it's investing 101 to not put all your eggs in one basket and international investing can be a great way to diversify. In my humble opinion, we shouldn't look at one versus the other but rather at one in addition to the other.