We may disagree Alex, but rest assured you will fight this battle for some time if you're buying in Austin as it is a great time to be a seller and not so great time to be a buyer.  

Really it comes down to what degree of assurance you can have in any greater returns you can generate with your investment compared to the interest on your loans.

I just recently came back from a trip to Toronto to visit family.

However, I still own an investment property there and visit quite frequently.

Since you want to use it for family, I would suggest a place you would want to visit.  

Older folks want the master on the bottom level and away from all the other bedrooms used by their kids and grandkids when they visit.

If I were a seller, and the buyer never bothered to visit the property, I would set some very strict terms.

The initial visit is usually free, so if you organize your questions you can get all of your answers.

If you are making a blank statement of how wonderful it is in the United States, please take a visit to some cities in Ohio or Michigan and try and explain that to them.No one is a bigger believer in real estate than I am.

There is a rumor floating around that a big name person may make a surprise visit during the Summitt.