Are you considering investing in the U.S.? Check out this news item;

http://www.inman.com/news/2010/09/1/bulk-buyer-law-spurs-wall-street-interest?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+inmannews+%28Inman+News+-+Headlines%29

Now most of us aren't considering investing in seven or more properties in the U.S. so it doesn't apply to us, but there are two hidden points that are more important to us average small-time investors than the main story.

The first lesson is how important it is to beware of subtle foreign laws that can really impact you. Most real estate lawyers don't discuss obscure yet powerful laws with their clients. They get paid to do a transaction and they do it. And in the US, and I am only going on what I hear and read, lawyers don't handle real estate transactions like they do up here, escrow and closing companies do. So the likelihood of you hearing about obscure laws just diminished. LESSON 1: Spend the money and the time to do in-depth due diligence when making foreign investments.

LESSON 2 requires less analysis. After the law was passed, the big-time investors cut loose on a buying frenzy. If they are that confident, then maybe we are at or near (or past) the bottom. Large Wall Street firms live and breathe money; if they are confident, then maybe it's time to buy. Lesson 2(a) - Once the large firms purchase property they will not fire-sale it. The good deals will slowly dry up and prices will begin the slow, inexorable climb out of the depths.

Just a couple of thoughts.