Thus, heis pretty excited and it has stuck in his head.

You can surely buy cheaper properties and obtain the same debt pay-down, but now you've got 5x the head-ache, so right asset class is more about efficiency when it comes to debt pay-down.Tax shielding is similar concept in that more expensive properties directionally give you more building basis to depreciate, which means less net income to tax.

Thanks for the heads up, I’ll call the mortgage companies.  

Just off the top of my head, I wouldn't feel super comfortable with non-US properties because properties in the US are held to HUD code (at a minimum).

I guess I can't wrap my head around the fact that anyone can make an argument as to how the doors and windows being left open was not the root cause of this issue.

I wanted to invest where I wanted to live and I am also from Elgin so am constantly headed further nw. 

People who live in an area their whole lives (most people), have a certain set idea in their head about the character of different towns and different neighborhoods.

Thanks for giving me a platform to word vomit as I rattle around these under-formed thoughts in my head! 

They have perfected putting their head into the sand post cards are tossed, phone calls hung up on. 

Ok, I actually haven't found any deals yet as I'm still reading a few books and trying to wrap my head around real estate investing.