I like the property and the loan to value... the question I have is fairly simple: Can I fund this loan as a non-licensed, private individual?

The worst part is the taxes here.....since UF/Shands/Schools/churches/other non profit organizaitons takes up like more than 50% of the land and dont have to pay taxes........they r crazy for us.

We have nothing about the loans in writing FROM the bank--only verbally from the owner's agent.

I personally do not ever put earnest money up for the wholesale deals I am buying from non-represented sellers.

I can't tell you home many buyers I've lost this summer alone due to things such as illness, decided not to relocate, finances were a mess, changed their investment strategy, realized they needed cash down to cash flow, wanted to buy REO's and non REO's at 50% in a sellers market.

Hey, landlord took down the ivy, power sprayed the house and vowed to get better non criminal tenants.

There are a couple lenders that I know of that entertain working with foreign nationals or non perminant residents on loans like that.I'd love to hear about the investments you've done in France.

Earnest money in current contract law is used for a non-judicial remedy for breach of contract.

Stuff like:Are they an angry landlordAre they current in their billsJob transferDivorceDefaultugly housesYou know.... all of that motivated seller stuff that is listed in every book on real estate investing.Your job is to learn the art of what I call in my book "Verbal Judo" You have to skillfully develope a style that gets you the information that you need while putting the seller at ease.

I am looking to buy investment properties in WNY and finding it hard as a non resident alien to source a mortgage for several reasons:1 The amount I want to borrow at any one time is only around $30K-$50K - ie to a lender, not really enough to justify the extra exposure to a foreigner.2.