And yes you can use the proceeds for anything you want not just real estate (although there may be some impact on your ability to deduct the interest depending on what you buy).Is this a great country or what!!!

The demand has had a response in supply and Houston currently ranks #2 in the country for approval of multi family properties.

I did live in the house for 3 years before moving across the country.

tenant was served multiple notices (3-day, 10-day and 20 day....too much detail to bother with here), eviction papers are filed with court and we were waiting for tenant to be served.  

I think it much depends on what are your short and long term perspectives.Let's see if I can put up a reasonable answer, and I also take it as an exercise for myself to clear up my ideas.If you invest for retirement and the goal is (as for much of us) having a passive income and maybe retire earlier, I think that the hardcore of our investments should be made in the same currency of the country we want to retire.

Real estate prices are going up across the country. 

You can also look at your local court records to find evictions.

Both daughters held title until 2005 and transfered property into the mothers name so she could get a reverse mortgage.The mothers will, which was recognized by the court, gives the property back to the 2 daughters after her death.The problem:The husband, the person still living in the property, is claiming ownership and refusing to let the daughters into the property to collect their mothers person effects.

Does anyone have experience in the 34th District Court (Romulus area) and what is the practices?  

IE high volume they write title insurance  one off hard to get anyone to do it.the only way a CA. state tax sale can be overturned is through court order and the person or entity that lost it has to prove that the public notification was flawed..