I read online that an American can buy property there.

Or, does it not really matter?

. $1200/mo. market value (based on onlIne ads), which is conservative for a 4 BR house in St.

I'm using various books, online resources and the Bigger Pockets podcast (half way done!) 

This might still be a lot for applicants in a C-class neighborhood, but it will be much less work for both of you if they can do it online (again, assuming they have access to a computer and a debit or credit card).

i've been trying to decide what online tenant check service to use. but i've been reading that some of these services dont give you the info they entered, such as social security number, etc. 

We saw about 10 houses and he still had not decided, as a matter of fact, he was looking at houses worth $320k but was willing to offer $270k, and these houses didn't even need ANY tender loving care at all!

Nice, good people skills, well connected, whatever....those don't matter if they don't understand what you're looking for.

Get used to detecting when the answers are not quite adding up and then get used to verifying the data online.  5. 

I have been doing a LOT of research, visiting various sites online.