I'd be especially concerned about areas that have a strong retirement component.

Congress scolded insurance giant American International Group Inc. for spending $440,000 on spa treatments for executives just days after the company took $85 billion from taxpayers.

Other than this one point I think it is a full 100% green light for Americans to get more involved in international trade, after all, other countries have been doing this for generations, and there are always new products and companies on the markets from everywhere.

I want to get involved in real estate investing as soon as I graduate, but for now how should I go about looking for a company/investor of whom I can intern for?

and am eager to learn more about Property Management and International Rentals, and maybe find some good leads, or at least ideas!

Things could get very interesting.There's a new power in international finance: Zhou Xiaochuan, governor of the People's Bank of China, the $2 trillion central bank of China.Article: http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgeting/article/106817/Dollar-Slams-Up-Against-a-Great-Wall?

Negotiating...I believe if more wholesaling "gurus" emphasized this tactic, there'd be less stress and heartache for wholesalers..Let's face it, some people who get into real estate via whatever strategy aren't great ...

Some clients save thousands of dollars a year with a Solo 401k compared to a self-directed IRA.Here are a few of the Solo 401k benefits:Compared to an IRA, Solo 401k contributions limits are roughly ten times higher.There is no custodial requirement for the 401k.You can take participant loans from the plan.You don't need the additional expense and administration of an LLC to have checkbook control.There is a built in-Roth component whereas IRAs are either traditional or Roth, not both.A spouse can also participate in the same Solo 401k plan.The Solo 401k has additional tax benefits over an IRA when investing into real estate using leverage.

@Angelo Caruso I would determine your reserve based on the age of the property, the age of it's most expensive limited-life components (roof, HVAC, oil heater?

Welcome Miranda, Good to have an international perspective here.