I hate real estate as an investment. My wife has a website where we just bought a bank owned apartment in Brazil for 40% of Market Value. It cost less than $14,000 US. It is 8 minutes to a very nice beach and in a desirable area of Joao Pessoa on the North East coast. I know it is probably not worth even $14,000, but I sealed a retirement home for Pennies on the worthless dollar.