Buying property outside of the US to diversify assets.

[Jeff Rabinowitz]

First off, this is not about hiding assets or evading US (or foreign) income taxes. I have no interest in doing either of those. I do have an interest in diversifying my assets. I no longer hold stocks, bonds or mutual funds as I prefer to hold real estate and silver. I am a US citizen and have been considering buying property in another country to diversify my assets. I am not really considering relocating. (If I did so now I would probably have to go without my wife as she is definitely not ready and I like living with my wife.) I live in suburban Detroit and it might be convenient for me to start by buying property in Canada. (Detroit is just north of Windsor and the US-Canadian border is closer to me than the Michigan-Ohio border.) If I did this I would probably hire a property manager in Canada to keep me in compliance with CRA regulations. So, have I attracted any US citizens to this thread who own real estate outside of the US? If so, what have been your greatest difficulties (setting up bank accounts, filing income taxes, etc.)? Has it been worthwhile or have there been too many complications and expenses?