If you show up when your supposed to, do what you say your going to do, get it done at an agreed upon "investor" price point and solve problems as they arrive you will have more business than you will know what to do with.

My name is Matija, I'm from Melbourne, Australia, and I'll be arriving in the US mid December to begin a 12 month work/travel visa.

These days, even traditional home buyers are bucking the knee-jerk reactions in banking in response to the crash and the issues which precipitated it.

The day will come when it will re-set (or crash).

I have actually rented to out-of-state tenants a few times, where they would not be arriving until move-in day. 

I bought a book about Canadians buying real estate in the US and I am waiting for it to arrive.

The tenant pay down and appreciation is how I am arriving at the equity number.

Thanks for the quick crash course.

Safety is more of a concern than money and my properties are now all 1 story so that makes them less prone to come crashing down or have more extensive damage on higher levels.i didn't feel the quake last night but i have felt some in recent years.  

Use to on commercial pre-2007 crash you could get development loans for 10% down down non-recourse.Now banks want much more down plus personal guarantees.