All Forum Posts by: Benjamin Olson

Thanks everyone! So I'm getting that it is possible and many people do invest internationally. Also, that there are different laws, regulations, requirements, and loop holes depending on the area. But is there a benefit to investing internationally over doing it locally, or at least in country? Because if not, I just see it as the same financial rewards but with more risks and work.  

Thanks. Great to know of a place to go for information. 

Do many foreigners own property in Spain which they rent out to tourists for something like vacation? 

I plan to study abroad next semester in Barcelona, Spain. 

Are there any REI opportunities internationally?

Is it practical to Invest internationally?  

Is there something I should look into while abroad concerning real estate? 

Does anyone else do it? 

Thanks for the great replies. Good views on the subject. I would like to include something that I forgot to mention (sorry, I should have). As far as I know, from talking to a financial advisor, the school gives each student a budget which includes estimated living expenses. so lets say school costs you $8,000 in tuition and books (dues directly associated with school) for the year and you take that out as loans. The schools budget given to you exceeds that because it takes in account other expenses. For example, we are given a budget of around $19,000 for the year. So that leaves $11,000 (19,000 - 8,000) in unmet budget that is assumed to being payed for by means other than loans. You are allowed you take out federal loans up to that budget amount. (The long explanation of what @John Wielgolinski mentioned) So, being that you are taking out loans for other living expenses, I feel like it would be ethical. like @Mike Cumbie mentioned, "cover housing expenses." I think that would have been a good way to go at it when I first started. Thats pretty much free money up until you are done being a full time student and could have been used for a couple of down payments. 

Thanks for the welcome and the pointer. 

Hi, I'm currently a college student in Bemidji, Minnesota and majoring in Business Administration and emphasizing in Entrepreneurship. I'm originally from Mid-Western Minnesota. As of now, I plan to learn more about real estate investing any way that I can. I also hope to find some way to gain experience by working for someone else or at least observing someone else. I have yet to find that. Otherwise, I hope to make the first move into buying my first property in the next few years. I came to BiggerPockets when I was looking through the iTunes app store for podcasts in the business area. I tried the BiggerPockets one out and discovered how great it was and it sparked my interest. 

I recently spoke to one of my professors who had mention that he used student loans to purchase his first real estate property. I asked if he thought that it was a good decision to do that. He replied that he thought it was a great decision on his part and had also used student loans to buy his first shares of stock and bonds. He mentioned that it worked well because you don't have to start paying back any loans until you are finished with school. Im assuming that they were federal and state student loans. 

Is there something missing to this? 

Are there any other good points that have been missed?