I've asked myself this same question and have come to a similar conclusion as most posters.

That comment is based on me jumping to a conclusion about you from one statement you made- we just moved in to our new custom home a few months ago.

I think your making a lot of assumptions and drawing your own conclusions from a very brief 5 point deal summary which wasn't even the topic in question.

While I can understand your initial conclusions regarding ¨The only doubt I have is that some numbers that can be applied to the US market are not the same in Europe¨.. if you dig a little deeper, you would likely find that the same or similar metrics can be applied - that is, ratio of rent to purchase price, etc.

I came to the conclusion many folks just do not have either the knowledge or common sense to be landlords and on top of that they hamstring their PM.. then blame the PM.. :) 

Upon that conclusion, I have developed a plan.

I don't think it really matters if someone paid too much for a property and is trying to cash flow it, or they own it free and clear, it's the principle of the matter if an owner thinks they're getting taken by a contracted entity.Now this may not be the case, but it's wise to check on it and come to your own conclusion. 

The fact that you would run onto this site to boast about getting a couple liens also leads me to that conclusion.  1)  There is a reason why you paid minimum bid for 2.  

Then it's domestic buyers who would stop purchasing, a group that despite the press is much larger than all the foreign buyers put together.So, long answer but short on conclusions; it's why US President Harry Truman wished for a one-armed economist (so they couldn't say 'on the other hand').

For real estate investors, this analysis often leads to a "forget the 401k" type conclusion.