The biggest advantage of using someone local to where you're buying is that they will understand taxes, insurance, and similar items very well when it comes to DTI/DSCR calculations and payment quotes, and they will likely have a local network of service providers for ancillary services (survey, inspections, etc).

Though USLI, one of the biggest umbrella policy providers, dropped my max coverage to $1M because I had pools.

The downside is they usually come with higher interest rates and shorter loan terms.Partnerships or Co-signers: If your husband or a trusted partner has U.S. legal status and credit history, they might be able to co-sign or help with financing.Cash Purchases: Since you have savings in Canada, you might consider using that for your first property, especially for a smaller rehab project.Foreign National Loans: Some lenders specialize in providing loans for foreign nationals.

@Maria JeanetteHere are some of the downsides of putting real estate into a self directed IRA or 401k.No tax deductions: You can’t claim deductions for property taxes, mortgage interest, depreciation, repairs, improvements and other property-related expenses.Property expenses: All expenses, repairs, and maintenance costs must be paid with IRA or 401k funds.

Here are the biggest mistaken assumption unsophisticated investors make when contemplating an investment in a deal1- that the Sponsor is an expert in the field of investment2- that investments, economic markets, financial markets are predictable with any accuracy3- that PROJECTED returns are PROMISED / GUARANTEED returns4- that because they NEED their investment to be liquid the sponsor will provide said liquidity5- that the “deal” is more important than the sponsor. 

This is literally the biggest obstacle for any data center development today.

The downside is that my profits are severely restricted compared to outside syndications. 

But it’s clear you’re a smart investor who knows the long-term benefits real estate can bring.I keep reminding myself why I stick with real estate: you can make money every month in four different ways:Cash Flow – Passive income to live on.Appreciation – Long-term property value growth.Depreciation – Tax benefits that reduce your taxable income.Tenants Paying Down the Mortgage – Even if you’re paid off now, this is one of the biggest wealth-building tools for leveraged properties.It sounds like your main struggle is the stress of active management—and trust me, you’re not alone.

Hey @Trevor Scheumann, The biggest thing to look for when visiting a new potential market is going to be to network with boots on the ground, namely property managers, highly recommended realtors and maybe a few contractors if they come from trusted sources.

I've never been through this process and it's my biggest fear because it seems to be SO costly!