At least like you .. being raised in CA and working on the west coast most of my career that would be pretty foreign thinking.Now since I have been investing in the mid west  ( non appreciating ) and ( cash flow markets) cash flow being described as 20 to  25% down and a 10% COC return..

Ultimately - I was not able to find a hard money lender who will loan on foreign purchases and American Banks will not do American Style mortgages in Costa Rica.

Would there be any difference because I am a foreigner who is not in the US?

I meant to live in the US of A without utilizing what "fannie Mae" can do for you is like ....... dont know what to saybut seriously product like 30 Year fixed rate mortgage, fanny mae, FDIC/SIPC ; that's all possible because Dollar is major currency of the world.

@Stephen Coleman - You can also do Foreign National Loans.

I'm currently working on a deal with a partner on a Vegas condo for this strategy and I can't wait to do more in the future, maybe even partnering with other BiggerPockets members :) I love listening to the podcast and learning from other members on there, I'm excited to see what I might learn here in the forums now too.I also just posted what feels like a somewhat obscure question regarding using the money from a foreign investment account to purchase a property if anyone feels like checking that out. 

Anyone can open LLC in USA, even a foreigner (and from Iran at that!!) 

A sixth factor comes from foreign nationals that need a place to stay while living over here or studying at the university.

I am a foreign investor, but I am not called "stupid".... 

Canadian investors are consistently the 1st or 2nd biggest foreign investors in the US market.