This question morphed into a more general discussion about passive investing which is something that I am very interested in.In my limited understanding it sounds like there are a few different ways to be a "passive investor".

It may have been easier because we were military at the time, but there are some civilian services as well that may help you if the consulate or embassy are too far.If you have a trusted business partner and can wire the money ahead you may also be able to establish a limited power of attorney for the deal that is restricted to terms you have already agreed on, and only for that deal.

I've read about Lifestyles Unlimited and the reviews have been that it is a good program while others said it was very expensive.

But, the net-net is once you get to the point where you are beyond the exclusion limit for estate taxes to kick in, every single penny I spend on estate planning seems to return to me dressed up like a dollar.

Given we plan on flipping several houses a year, and we are creative types with a some limited background in interior design, we'll likely go with Option C and do it ourselves.I'd be curious as to people's experiences with professional stagers, and whether you felt you got proper value and return on your investment at the end of the deal.

My mortgage broker said that the new Jan 10 laws limit cash our refi.

Strangely enough, I love my job and it pays the bills (barely) but I've come to realize that it's not going to make me wealthy.So I'm looking to learn a lot (more) from this site to discover what my niche might be in REI (wholesaling, rehab/flipping, buy & hold, etc) with my current limited resources.

If the spread is to thin hard money becomes obsolete.Some appraisers provide limited or desktop appraisal for smaller fees.

Since property tax increases are limited to the lower of inflation or 5% it's possible for the taxes for a long-time owner to be well below what a new buyer would pay since the taxes "uncap" upon sale.

On the good side, it is free & clear :).So, the potential deal that this post refers to would work really well with the limited cash I have on hand right now, and give me more Land-lording experience so that when I DO sell my personal residence and start to use that money to acquire more rentals, I will also have that benefit.