Managing five rentals can eat up a ton of time in any given week, often at times that are inconvenient to you and your personal interests (family, hobbies, travel, etc.).Of course you can manage on your own.

I would be happy to go over some of the requirements for getting a mortgage in the US as an international investor. 

Start anywhere—offer to assist, intern, whatever it takes—and absorb as much knowledge as you can.

While I agree that the STR market has matured and margins are compressing, I don’t think this is a universal truth especially for Americans buying in international markets like Germany.

Also, consider who you’re hosting, is it families, business travelers, or medical professionals?

Properties in the Southeast of Mexico often offer ROI upwards of 10%-15% annually, especially in short-term rentals.Key Benefits:Tourism Growth: Mexico welcomed over 40 million international visitors in the first 11 months of 2024, surpassing 2023 figures. 

Right now focused on Charlotte & Raleigh, NC, but also considering some of the advice above of sticking with markets I have friends/family in and travel to frequently. 

We will shop for used appliances where we can when we need one… or pick up used cabinets if we can, or search eBay for something smaller,  but going to the extreme of personally shipping something big in internationally for one-off renovation needs seems like a stretch of reasonable.Just like you mention, the number of unknowns would not seem to be worth it to me.Just my 2 cents.Randy  

My wife will also travel down alone to spend a week at a time with our daughter and grandson.

I‘m also happy to travel to speak to groups or provide 1:1 coaching along your purchasing experience.