Prices in these markets can swing by 50-100% in a matter of a few short years, and the party's over in terms of "moderately wealthy" Americans being able to afford vacation homes for the forseeable future.

I on the other hand am an American mutt. 

Although I'm an American, our mortgage company arm does quite a few loans for real estate investors that 1) are not US Citizens and 2) do not live in the US.

I wouldn't imagine average American Pat having that kind of information right at his/her fingertips.

I wanted to move to an emerging real estate market where I had a chance at the american dream by owning a small business and investing in SFRs.

I already provided a link above that Binghamton is safer than 4% of all American cities, this is provided from the FBI- read above as you clearly didn't already.Who is it telling me the population is declining in Binghamton?

Is Erin’s book called American Norman’s?

It's all the same, except for more expensive FEDEX, and "notarizing" is done at American Consulates. 

In a truly moral and civilized society, people exclusively interact through persuasion.  

You are intelligent and have shown that you have human capital.I've been to 34 countries, including Ebola striken Liberia...when you feel bad for yourself, realize just about every American has it better than a lot of people around the world.