This strategy made a large amount of money for many, me included...until the music stopped and there were no chairs.

Let's enjoy it as long as it lasts because I probably don't need to tell you what will happen when the music stops if you were around during the last US housing meltdown.Because of the lack of credit in those countries, most people have to pay cash, locals and foreigners alike, as you mentioned.

Make sure you get an attorney to draft up all the agreements regarding partnership structure and security instrument for your cash investment.

@James FreeYou could certainly model it out, but practically speaking, I prefer to use the spread between what I can get in public markets vs what I can reasonably achieve on a similar instrument in the private market.

Probably a brain fart since guys the age of Steve and I used to watch MTV when they actually played music videos!  

One with a hell of a lot of resources to keep the music playing. 

I"ve posted here many times saying HELOCs are a short-term debt instrument. 

Stealing others food, not cleaning up after themselves, not sharing common areas well, loud music, etc.  

Over the last 6-7 years, Austin has posted consistent job growth (3-4% TTM job growth is some of the best in the nation), outstanding population in-migration (I've read something like 150 people a day are moving to Austin), good civic leadership, a very aggressive economic development corporation here which is actively recruiting companies here (see the RECA site and Opportunity Austin 3.0 for more details via the Austin Chamber of Commerce), and some excellent structural advantages (i.e. flagship UT 50,000 + students, temperate climate, relatively low cost of living, music culture, etc.).  

This was a classic case of a game of musical chairs where the amateur latecomers were left standing when the music stopped.