I don't recommend investing in offshore real estate unless you go there frequently and have language skills. 

Despite the background I have in the area, it is absolutely crucial to visit the area frequently, make good contacts and build trusting relationships in order to get a good 'team' in place.  

I frequently have clients who ask for me to write in "or assigns" after the buyer name to make the contract assignable and I typically think it is a redundancy, but also think if it makes the contract more clear to all parties so that there are no surprises once under contract then its beneficial.  

I'm in the military and deploy fairly frequently so she is the continuity while I'm away.

There are some very successful people in those spaces that frequent these forums. 

We frequently provide value to the forum by answering questions and posting updates to the tax laws they relate to real estate.

Should the rates increase more frequently and/or more aggressively?

I personally charge hourly for my services since it has been my experience that clients frequently underestimate their needs. 

Now, down at those temperatures, your COP will be approaching 1.Here where we have cold winters, code requires an ancillary heat source - electric baseboard heaters are most commonly used - to supplement the heat pump in the dead of winter (we frequently get 2-3 weeks where temperatures are below -20C).In a warmer climates, even if code requires you to put in ancillary heat, you should never have to use it.

Frequently the REI/consumer applies to 3 or 5 different HELOC lenders before a credit line is actually opened -- the better rate HELOC has higher standards, so REI/consumers go through this time-exhaustive exercise of getting denied a bunch because the 4 best rate HELOC lenders denied them, it's not until the 5th that it's approved and open.