Therefore, if you look at history, real estate has continuously performed in an upwards fashion while, like any other investment, has experienced short lived corrections from time to time.

Prices a few years ago were based on expectations of (in addition to interest rates staying low): - Then current operating cost assumptions (like insurance cost expectations being flat)- A seeming disregard for record levels of new inventory / supply hitting the market- Extremely high inbound migration expectations which are likely to not be met, due to both natural disasters and the boomerang effect when people from California or the Northeast move to the American South and hate every minute of the humidity, the large and relentless swarm of insects, and the occasional hurricane. 

However, I don’t have a US-based W2 (but work full time for an American tech company in their London office). 

I'm really old fashioned and have been using spreadsheets for years.

I’m hoping to find more success in Phoenix, but as you stated, the old fashioned way may be my best bet.

We are the only lender who can offer a classic 30 year mortgage to Americans in Costa Rica. 

Numbers always look good on paper but between holding costs when acquiring and renovating property, closing costs on can also add up.I am not saying it cannot be done, as I did it with about 75 loans in a very similar fashion (except I was buying NPL's and got them reperforming).

Look, we were for most part playing a game of American Football for a long time.

(I'm non confrontational)The plot has a native American burial site, which we spoke to a tribe member and gladly let them onsite for rituals and practice. 

I am an American-born Portuguese descendent who has recently relocated to Portugal in January of this year.