This is my first post here, so I hope I don't mess it up :)My name is Hugo Laranjeira and I'm a real estate agent/brokerage founder (Nomad Real Estate) /investor/ all around problem solver in LisbonI wanted to talk a little about how Portugal is a great place for investors right now and, on the other hand, I'd like to ask a few questions about the US.First of all, I don't know is this is well known, but Portugal is today the best gateway to anyone coming to Europe to live or invest due to our visa program.Did you see the news about Madonna coming to Portugal and all that publicity stunt about how Lisbon is beautiful and such?

A non professional said they fail.

the proration requirement is all the gain prorated between all the qualified use (as a primary residence) and non-qualified use (as an investment property. 

Not sure how your MLS system works, but up here in the northeast that is illegal as that would then give the public instructions on how to get into the property and the lockbox codes.

Just as I would not expect an institutional investor to buy and manage homes, I don't think I'll be doing that with the SEP either.Here's my recommendation:Hands-of investmentf: Go with the SDIRAHands-on (or potentially hands-on): Go with a typical (non-IRA) process

Are you good with a non-appreciating part of town if it has good cash flow?  

You can't compare that cash flow vs a non-owner occupied 25% down cash flow. 

This provides privacy, avoids public records searches and when you pass away it walks around probate and delivers your asserts to your heirs without the need of an attorney.A land trust is a strategy not a complete tool box.

If they come through then the hold deposit is converted to Security Deposit but if they fall through then the Hold Deposit is forfeited, non-refundable.

Taxes and Other Government Fees $716Recording Fees and Other Taxes $295 --> If I understand this the seller would pay for this.