Foreign nationals wishing to become permanent residents in the United States can sometimes run into maddening restrictions or quotas that can vary, depending on political swings both in Washington D.C. and in their countries of origin.
Those that have the financial means are using the “Investment Visa” more than ever before as a way to obtain their green card. Since other options are becoming more unavailable to foreign nationals under U.S. Immigration law and the significant decrease in the value of the dollar vs other currencies, this option is making sense to a growing number of people – especially with conversion rates at a favorable scale.
The basics are this:
Start a business with $1M in capitalization or more – get your resident visa. Of course there are more details, but that is a place to start. You’re creating jobs or perhaps becoming an active partner in a business that can benefit from your expertise & capital.
The Immigration & Nationality Law Firm of Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP has a very informative website that explains the requirements and the process of obtaining an EB-5 Investment Visa: Klasko Law
Welcome to America – the great thing about this country is that we are all relatively new descendants of people from somewhere else. Perhaps even our ancestors were neighbors at one point!
Should you be interested in what the Desert Southwest has to offer, my team will put together a package to show you the opportunities, facilities & support for commercial ventures.
Whether you're looking for warehouse, industrial, high-tech office or development space, research facilities or raw land, we're ready for all of your commercial or residential real estate needs.
Lets face reality here: no matter how much somebody wants to buy a home, not everyone is in the financial shape to do so.
Nevertheless, in our "gotta have it now" society, profiteers pop up to indulge people's impatience and stupidity. In just about every town in America, you'll see stores offering "No credit, bad credit - take it home today" plans for everything from CD players to computers, couches to cars, washing machines to wheels...and houses.
Sure, its easy--just sign on the bottom line, make these easy weekly payments that sound like chicken feed (until you add them up) for the next 325 years, and you too can be the proud owner of a brand new TV! Oh yeah...that TV cost us $400, but you'll end up paying $6000 for it by the time you actually own it.
In some states, by law the rental center has to tell you how much it will cost you in the long run, some don't...but there's always some sort of gloss over that total - something like, "if you want to buy it early, just pay 50% of the balance left on what you owe."
"Cool! I'm no fool," the customer thinks, "when I win big at BINGO or get a good scratchoff ticket - I'll just pay it off...& make out like a bandit." Yeah, right. Read the fine print.
Enter the real scam: Rent-to-Own Homes. Now that screwy loans aren't all over the place as much, you see these signs on vacant lots, in shopper ad sheets, bus benches & on the radio - all touting how easy it is to get your own home NOW, with no credit check, EZ Payments, yada yada yada.
I've read many of these contracts. Not a single one offers any protection to the buyer/tenant. They are all designed for the borrower to fail...because that's where the money is. The money isn't in actually selling someone a home, the profit is in churning through prospects like a meatgrinder, getting the "down payment" over & over again.
Highly inflated values & exorbitant payments "while you get your credit repaired enough to get a regular loan" prey on victims, coupled with a time limit on when financing can be secured...or all is forfeit & the tenant/buyer is evicted.
Why not just hit yourself in the face with a sledgehammer?
To prove my point, just take a look at this lawsuit filed by Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard today: PDF The Arizona Daily Star also quotes Goddard as saying that the behavior of the defendants is "Unconscionable" Article Does this really surprise anyone? Not me...I'll bet that this is just the beginning.
Some of the victims were even put into homes already in the process of foreclosure! How sleazy is that? Arizona Public Radio stated today that out of 270 buyer/tenants taken in by this bunch, only 1 actually was able to eventually purchase a home.
Wonder how many of the "investors" who were lured into putting their name on the line in this easy-money scheme are facing foreclosure themselves?
Greedy people preying on the weak & stupid will always be around...as will those who readily serve up as fresh victims of the next scheme. It is good for all of us to be reminded of this in the headlines every now & then.
As professionals in the industry, it is our responsibility to let our clients and prospects know about this kind crap. I won't represent anyone in a rent-to-own purchase or sale. Never have, never will - and I've told people that. It may not be illegal all of the time, but it surely isn't ethical.
Go Get 'Em Terry!
Well, the other day I posted a photo of Pinal AirPark...actually a photo of the mountains & the sunset - with Pinal AirPark part of the foreground. Don't have a big ol' zoom on my little Kodak to really get the planes close-up.
Readers asked me to get better photos of the mothballed passenger airliners (plus I felt a little guilty - just a little), so I went by the entrance on my way out elsewhere to get a nice shot to share. The guard at the gate told me that photos weren't allowed! Hmm...sounds pretty stupid to me...(my first instinct was to laugh & say, "Whatever" but even rent-a-cops have guns sometimes - and not much of a sense of humor most of the time).
Today I happened to have a little time on my way back from Maricopa, AZ - so I went just past the entrance, pulled over by a field & took this shot. Best I can do folks - hope it helps satisfy that craving! LOL
Now THERE's that "Cool $Billion or More" I promised ya!
Tucson's "Monsoon Season" began June 15th, according to the National Weather Service (they just decided to make an official date starting last year - instead of relying on weather conditions...go figure).
This is when we start to see lots of beautiful clouds roll in from the southeast, sometimes bringing rain, more often just adding to the Sonoran Desert scenery.
I was taking photos of a home on 5 acres northwest of Tucson, in Pinal County today in an unincorporated area sometimes referred to as "Davis Ranch" when I had the chance to capture some shots of these clouds and the multitude of saguaros in the area.
Acreage lots with utilities and water are available for folks who want to enjoy the peace & quiet of the Sonoran Desert, but still have the convenience of being relatively close to Tucson.
Custom homes and a few manufactured homes dot the map, even a gated community exists out here amongst the saguaros...as long as you don't mind a dirt road or two.
Should you be interested in a plot of land or a home already built, feel free to call, text, email or tweet me! I'm TucsonKent, your real estate agent who will go the extra mile for you (even if you want to be in town).
Just to the west of I-10 as you are heading north from Tucson towards Phoenix...a smidgen past the town of Marana, is Pinal Airpark. Home to hundreds of passenger airliners that are either waiting to be recalled into service or stripped down and their parts recycled.
This may well be one of the most valuable junkyards on the planet!
It isn't a sight one expects while motoring along the highway, enjoying the desert scenery. Just a couple of miles north is a new home development called Red Rock that is doing pretty well. There's a skateboard park, water park & ball fields in place, even a new school...and a planned commercial strip along with freeway access.
I took this shot from across I-10 while coming back from shooting video & photos of a home on 5 acres when I thought that a glimpse of the clouds & mountains with a couple of billion dollars worth of aircraft might be interesting to readers of my world - enjoy!
Should you be interested in an affordable home in Red Rock or another area in the Tucson Metro area, please feel free to call, email, text or tweet me! I'm TucsonKent, your real estate agent who will go the extra mile...or 50.
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Real Answers-not "Mumbo Jumbo." Native to the Southwest, my career has revolved around exceeding client expectations in a variety of fields. This region is my home, my passion, my heritage.
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