Also, making money with them in the US can trigger withholding when collecting rents and selling/disposing of property.

That is only acceptable in the case you mentioned where you have enough reliably disposable to be comfortable with that.I was just pointing out that real estate generally is still a good business to buy.

But has knowledge in remodeling and building houses and has contractors at his disposal.

With less people at their disposal, they perhaps hear of less DEALS but I might be more likely to get a referral to a deal since I'm one of only 50.Does anyone have any experiences with these companies?

Identify what you can afford based off disposable income to invest, find an area that fits that criteria to where you can invest in.

Two screws, two wires, a connection to the water supply, and a connection likely to your disposer for the waste line.

I've had units with garbage disposals.  

Everyone started buying properties in areas like Blue Ridge, GA and the Smokies, especially the TN side as a way to make a quick buck, in reality it is probably the combination of the economy/inflation with vacationers having less disposable income and also saturation, more beds than heads.

Even when we finally disposed of it, the sale kept going wrong.

He is not going to be favorably disposed to someone who is not making a contribution to his bottom line.