Q4) Do I need an Australian or American accountant/attorney to make all of this work?

(The Good Ole American Dream.)The second, is simple.

That said, since the value of a primary residence is a significant portion of wealth for most Americans, these price movements serve as a useful barometer of the health of the real estate market, and our economy as a whole.

Where was BP 20 years ago when I was trying to be an adult?!  

With numbers from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey, you can literally map the parts of LA that are seeing more move-ins, as well as the average length of tenancy in different submarkets.I'm happy to discuss submarkets anytime you like!

The big guys, like American Home Shield are, in my professional opinion, completely worthless. 

@Steve Morris, you wrote: "Well, I guess if you think someone in Moscow is an expert on American real estate, say in Kenosha, WI, that's pretty good."

If so, you may be able to get adult services involved to help assist him in a transition to a new group home or residence.  

The problem is I work overseas, so even  though I am an American and have a decent income it’s hard to get a loan.

They must think Americans are so dumb as to think the homeowner Section 121 exclusion is really the 1031 exchange!