I have a specialized type of work visa and do not have residency status or a green card.

My fiancee and I are looking to invest in duplexes or single homes in Milwaukee.

I'm new to the area - just bought our first property after moving to be near my fiancee's family here.I'm considering a new business model that pares down full-service property management into just the leasing portion.  

and visa-versa. 

You can run a credit history on a Canadian through most of the credit bureaus or their agents such as TVS.The other thing to keep in-mind is if they are in the U.S.A. on a student/work visa or w/ a green card, then they have been vetted by your government.

Guy who had rent problems now lives alone and you are now dealing with someone with recent bad rent, a mad fiancee(ex fiancee) and a possible future payment for child support...if you think that's a remote possibility after meeting them then you know what I would choose.

Are you here under some kind of work visa program ?

While I'm a software designer by day, I'm planning on investing in real estate in the next couple of years with my girlfriend (soon to be fiancee) so I'm trying to learn as much as I can while I save up the investment capital.

Spain and Portugal are good examples of countries with great investment potential but the logistics are just a huge burden.I'm currently looking at acquiring an E2 investors Visa and setting up an LLC based on the West Coast, dealing in real estate, long term rentals and vacation rentals.

I do however have questions about financing options for foreign nationals like myself, especially students with F1 visa's.