As close as it gets to visiting a different US state without actually being a state: no passport required, US dollar is local currency, familiar restaurants and big-name stores, you can order stuff from Amazon and have it shipped via USPS, cell phone plans work like they do at home, etc. 11.

In my humble opinion, out-of-control government spending and the printing of currency is the real culprit here.

Technology is only advancing and a digital currency makes total sense.

Expect many cities to become somewhat Detroit-ified.  2) The federal government will go to war era measures to debase the currency in a bid to rescue its (and state and municipal) balance sheets from insolvency. 

Or Amero, DGC or whatever the prevailing currency is. 

In an unknowable future, I'd rather have an asset than a currency.

Very tough....normally requires cash and no leverage.Many places don't allow foreigners to hold land, only condos.ROI often is horrible and prices don't seem to go up where there is lots and lots and lots of space to build another building next door or down the street.For some in Asia with local currency, they buy to store wealth. 

I used to deal with overseas buyers but unless they have their ducks in a row and already know about entity creation, additional tax withholding, currency exchange rates, and how to get their money over here from there  then it's a no go.

Or betting on currency exchange rates. 

HELOCs in most other countries don't exist.One thing to think about too is currency risk.....so many companies right now reporting lower earnings do to big swings in exchange rates.There is probably opportunity somewhere, but your odds of success probably go up exponentially if you know the country well, know the area you're investing in well, have some knowledge of property law and landlord/tenant law, and know the language well.