I've worked for myself pretty much ever since i left school, i'm now a management consultant and keynote speaker in Western Australia, and for the past couple of decades i've run a fairly successful business.

While in Australia visiting family (2012) I received a couple of 2am (Australia) phone calls from my agent & we did 3 deals. 

South Korea, Australia, Maui, Brazil, Belize, We like Belize because:- Official language English- currency is pegged at $2BZD to $1USD- Property ownership laws are English based since they were ruled by England. 

Here's what I've got so far:--Cold Calling --> I cold call now in Australia, so I'm getting some good practice and should be motivated to get after it again when I get back to the states.

And I am quite a lot further than LA - Sydney Australia!

China has a huge RE bubble which will deflate with a bang, and Australia is too hot as well.

In Australia they are as common as tiles, I even have a house not far from me with a Titanium roof!!

@Jie Li  the Bakken oil play was a high risk reward scenario.. so I don't think you can hold that one against yourself.. it was more of a risk capital investment than a cash flow or long term investment... many folks in Australia dumped big dollars into those deals and lost it all.

And just like Australia the USA market has ups and downs.

I can't imaging trying to do this from Australia.