The experience I have had with this contractor has turned into the poster child of investors fears of working with a contractor.  

I would say it's quite likely that you would want a small family that has a child and might be considering another to look your property.

But so far American Continental Bank, American Plus Bank, Wells Fargo and Banc of California(my wife works here).

@Troy EgarOne way of beginning to gain an understanding of your market it by looking at the relevant data.Data sources such as the American Community Survey, also known as the annual Census, can help you judge a location by considering key market indicators, which I list below.Some of the metrics that I find valuable to understand are:- Population Total- Population Age - Home Values- Household Incomes- Rental Vacancy Rate- Homeowner Vacancy Rate- Poverty Rate- Educational Attainment Rate (High School/GED & Bachelors)- Number of Housing Unit- Rent to Income Ratio- Rent to Price Ratio- Population on SNAPS (supplemental nutrition assistance program) percentage- Property Tax Rate- Median Age of Buildings- Number of Structures by Units (SFR, Duplex, Triplex, Quadplex, etc...)- Median Rents by Number of Bedrooms- Unemployment Rate- Employment Sectors Percentages- Number of Building Permits Issued- Foreclosure Rate- School Ratings- Crime Statistics Also take into consideration the direction in which each of these market indicators are trending.

I suggest targeting a few cities, which you can select by looking at the relevant data.Data sources such as the American Community Survey, also known as the annual Census, can help you judge a location by considering key market indicators, which I list below.Some of the metrics that I find valuable to understand are:- Population Total- Population Age - Home Values- Household Incomes- Rental Vacancy Rate- Homeowner Vacancy Rate- Poverty Rate- Educational Attainment Rate (High School/GED & Bachelors)- Number of Housing Unit- Rent to Income Ratio- Rent to Price Ratio- Population on SNAPS (supplemental nutrition assistance program) percentage- Property Tax Rate- Median Age of Buildings- Number of Structures by Units (SFR, Duplex, Triplex, Quadplex, etc...)- Median Rents by Number of Bedrooms- Unemployment Rate- Employment Sectors Percentages- Number of Building Permits Issued- Foreclosure Rate- School Ratings- Crime Statistics Also take into consideration the direction in which each of these market indicators are trending.

Are the laws in the US different for non-citizens vs. for Americans?

And I also live far from the United States and am not an American citizen.

@Lance Francis, based on your criteria of 300k to 500k you will surly have a difficult time find a property in NYCWith that in mind, here is a map showing the median home values as reported on the most recent American Community Survey aggregated by zip codes in the NYC area. 

I have been using American Interstate Bank for commercial loans.

Areas of practice will include criminal law, real estate, wills and probate, powers of attorney, landlord-tenant, immigration, child custody and support, divorce, business, debt collection and more.