Wells Fargo accounts can still be set up with our local banker with internet access, ATM cards sent to your Australian address so you can access your money in Australia.

Billpay payment facility where you can pay contractors and property managers money from your online…

I think the resource play has more than 5 years in it.

US are looking to over take Qatar as number #1 exporter by 2016.

New type of "horizontal fracking" drilling is unlocking huge deposits in Shale areas that the so called "Peak Oil" experts didn't account with their "running out Oil" predictions in the late 2000s.

If managed well by…[Read more]

Have spoken to a couple of brokers and they are witnessing domestic application volume increasing which is making some brokers less motivated to work with foreigners when there is so much domestic demand coming through their doors.

Still possible but we need to be a little bit more…[Read more]

Nigel is correct.

You would file a 2012 US TAX Return (financial year ending December 31st 2012)

Then in 2013 June 30th you would file your AUS TAX Return.

Your Australian accountant will need a copy of your 2012 US TAX Return to add this "Foreign Income/Deductions/Tax Paid" onto your 2013 June 30th AUS TAX Return.

Generally speaking,…[Read more]

Like the old Warren Buffet quote:

"It’s far better to buy…[Read more]

Interesting point Jay and Freckle make about the Hedge Funds underestimating vacancies, maintenance and property management headaches.

I have seen a couple of management companies crumble as a consequence of funds pushing too many properties on their books and they were severely under staffed.

Sure, every…[Read more]

It is hard for me to trust an agent from now on, after I had put in an offer only to find out later the offer was never presented to the owner and the home sold for 10K less than what I was offering. The agent was pregnant and she may have just wanted to close out a quick transaction.

So from my experience, I think sometime you…[Read more]

Fair point you make. How rude of me not to introduce myself and the reasoning behind my hot air statement.

I own properties in both the US and Australia. My US portfolio is doing way better than my Australian one.

I am speaking from a bit of US property experience as I manage my portfolio from Melbourne and also manage a large…[Read more]

Something was fishy back then, and they obviously saw rates heading lower.

I don't feel we are at the bottom with interest rates yet and they obviously are betting on rates to move lower in the short term, but, I agree with Jamie M on…[Read more]

Better cashflow opportunity in America in my opinion. 

Gross Yields of 20%

Interest Rates at historical lows

Prices are at 1979 levels inflation adjusted

US market is already showing strong signs of recovery. The bottom was February 2012 and on its way back up

Are you chasing cash flow? Or growth property? Growth property will obviously require you to keep up with interest payments and a lot more stress to holding a job and not over extending yourself. With cash flow property, the property pays for itself and can be a great way to start your portfolio.

Remember, you can only buy as much…[Read more]

From my understanding it is when you get paid the income. So I would invoice to get paid for July.

You would be better off delaying payment until July. Save you a full year of tax accountant fees etc.

And once that happens, what other industries can that local economy currently support outside of the oil & gas industry. Can these other industries absorb all of those jobs if oil & gas slows…[Read more]

Apologies but I can't help with the Canadian Australian connection I am sorry.

Might be best to approach a larger firm, but you will pay for the advice.

Great to see a change in focus for you Peter!!

To bring money back to Australia, you can send a billpay check to your currency provider, and then they credit the money back into your account. The most effective…[Read more]

LVR is lower and interest rates are higher for foreigners due to the higher risk the lender would be exposed to. The foreigner would have no-recourse on that mortgage and no way for the bank to go after assets or funds if that foreigner defaulted on payments. 

You need to be dealing with 500K plus in assets to have any negotiating power…[Read more]

Here is what I did 4 years ago when I purchased my first US property in Phoenix, Arizona.

Studied the Macro economics of America and what industries and economic trends were developing. (This is very important! Detroit looks great on paper, but when you dig a little deeper……not so great)

Decided to target Phoenix…[Read more]

The investor needs to ask themselves what they are chasing.

If you are chasing rock bottom foreclosure prices and are happy to wait…[Read more]

LOOPHOLE 1 –
Some US Property Firms can open up the account on the owners behalf, (the US Property Firm manager will have minor stake in the LLC to make this happen and then…[Read more]

This is exactly how I am set up for my structure. ( I am not licensed to give advice but can talk of my experience)

If you don't bring any US property income home then my accountant has advised me that I didn't have to declare it as income on my latest tax return. It has simply been income generated by a US entity and has stayed in…[Read more]

Our Melbourne accountant has just got through in writing from the ATO that the SMSF will be taxed at the highest rate if it owns property through an LLC set…[Read more]

– Purchase already rehabbed and/or tenanted properties

Depends how much extra you are prepared to pay over the value of the home. Vendors will always charge more for this service. If you want to get in at rock bottom prices, then you will need to go…[Read more]

Still yet to be approved, but the lady seems to snowed under 90 applications right now. Everyone is starting to catch on

Try our guys who work together:

joe@americanrealestateinvestments.com
rich@myaffinityproject.com

Hope this helps

You wont be able to live in the property if you are planning to move to the states if you are under the age of 65.

Most industry super funds wont allow foreign property investment and you will need to set up a SMSF with…[Read more]

I don't want to offend people on here, but the membership fee seems to be the "moron" filter for some of these companies.

I have no issue with paying a finders/acquisition fee, but an information fee is a…[Read more]

If you do the sums, you will actually take 10-15 years off the life of your Aussie loan.

Pretty good result if you don't want to rely on a job to service this loan in the future!

Then the Australian positive cash flow market dried up and now all the American's are replicating Steve's strategy but on their home soil.

Steve seems to be focused on the US market. Same strategy he used in Ballarat, but different part of…[Read more]

http://express.realquest.com/search.aspx

https://www.chase.com/online/Home-Lending/home-value-estimator.htm

Again, this will give you a rough estimate, but valuation numbers are hard to manage currently with so many foreclosure sales pulling pricing down in the same neighborhood.

Probably better off paying…[Read more]

Its…[Read more]

If I could give you some advice: There are enough FREE resources online as well as on this forum to help you make a sound investment decision. You don't need to pay for this by way of a membership fee or anything like that.

<moderator: delete advertising>

If you don't and are just looking for some GA property that is turnkey, then head to:

http://www.atlturnkeylistings.com

access code: areiatlanta

There is about another 30 properties about to be posted onto this site in the next few days (fresh out of rehab and…[Read more]

You nailed it. Doesn't matter what market you are in (international or domestic). People you trust and a system that you will trust will be the important piece of the puzzle.

I agree, the bottom has probably passed us in a lot of US markets. Which is good from the retail investor view, as that they don't want to be catching a falling…[Read more]

Those homes look very familiar to Texas Cash Cow homes… Looks like US Invest is just leveraging off Texas Cash Cow's system and charging a fee for it!

TCCI look to be the direct source for…[Read more]

But Gross numbers are good from a macro level when deciding to choose a specific market.

I don't find it that surprising that Detroit scored the highest price-to-rent ratio (highest gross rent) but also scored the highest vacancy rate ratio.

As Streamlined has said, in the right market, 8% is a solid…[Read more]

Appreciate your honesty on this forum and it is great learning for everyone.

Have any Detroit wholesalers or turnkey providers on here had any luck helping you off load your property rather than wasting any more time with that Allen slime ball?

I feel for you Richard. It makes me sick how <moderator: delete personal comment> someone…[Read more]

I think it is more an American term, as all the large data/research firms seem to quote this ratio to track housing markets domestically rather than yield.

The trulia rent-vs-buy quarterly presentation is worth keeping an eye on

AREIJoel wrote:
Guys, I truly believe that going through an agent who relies on commissions is the wrong way to go about it from a foreign investor perspective. If you are going to be managing a property from so far away, then you need to align yourself with a company who is not in it for the short quick profits. Sure everyone…[Read more]

Currency Risk
Litigation Risk
Market Value
Insurance
Vacancy Costs
Maintenance Costs
Taxation
Entity Structure
Property Management

BUT….. there is something that is even more important than the above issues before you should take your next step:

YOU and YOUR…[Read more]

This is where the herd will get slaughtered in my opinion.

There are 3 phases in any new bull market, and I think we are entering phase number 2 as we speak. The smart investors have all positioned themselves in well in…[Read more]

The problem is most of us don’t have ITINs. Once you get this with your first tax return, your wiring will be easier.

So while you wait for an ITIN, the key is getting in with a good retail bank manager. Establish yourself in with someone. Sure some companies…[Read more]

Not sure if you have your own property manager in place or managing it yourself but most property managers offer this service for around a $75 fee.

Best to ask your manager when the last assessment was done and what the current assessed value is. If it is high then obviously it is worth the appeal, if its low or near to what you…[Read more]

http://www.ato.gov.au/superfunds/content.aspx?doc=/content/65779.htm&pc=001/002/012&mnu=44863&mfp=001/149&st=&cy=

http://www.americanrealestateinvestments.com.au/smsf-investing/

However, it doesn’t mention Bank compliance issues but is a good start for people wanting to go down this path.

Most…[Read more]

You don’t pay double tax.

Whatever you pay in tax on US soil, you will pay the balance owing in Australia.

e.g.

1. If you earn $10,000 in rental income in the U.S. (you would be classified in the 15% tax bracket)

2. You will pay 15% tax to the IRS.

3. If you are on the 30% tax bracket in Australia, you will…[Read more]

Charging an upfront fee for information and services that are easily obtainable on other websites are probably not a good idea to pay for if you are the consumer looking for true value.

Underwriters are the National Real Estate Insurance Group. They insure in all 50 states. Here is the quick link I send our clients when they wish to enquire about insurance. Get a quote from these guys and see what they can offer…[Read more]

I truly believe that going through an agent who relies on commissions is the wrong way to go about it from a foreign investor perspective.

If you are going to be managing a property from so far away, then you need to align yourself with a company who is not in it for the short quick profits. Sure everyone needs to get paid, but there is a…[Read more]