Buying America

Buying America
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Buying America is the English-language podcast for international investors exploring real estate, business and building a life in the United States. Conversations with the Buying America founders about investing across borders. Visit https://buyingamerica.group for more.

  1. Oct 31

    Affordable Housing Investing: Discipline, Community and Operating Costs

    Recorded in 2026. Edmundo Treviño and Joe Faraci reflect on a Florida property visit, the community behind their early real estate projects, and the operating discipline involved in affordable housing. They discuss mobile home parks, Section 8 housing, renovation materials, the difference between an attractive place to live and an investment property, and why patience and consistent systems matter more to them than chasing spectacular returns. This is an archival conversation about their experiences and views, not a report of current investment results. CHAPTERS 00:00 A Florida visit and an early fund recap 00:35 Learning through experience and community 02:15 Visiting affordable housing properties 04:25 Personal experience with housing and recessions 06:05 Discipline and a long-term approach 08:20 Expectations about investment returns 09:10 Renovation choices and operating costs 10:30 Consistent property management systems 12:10 Historical expansion and immigration plans 14:05 Learning from others and closing questions Context and corrections: Affordable housing and mobile home parks are not recession-proof, and neither steady returns nor preservation of capital is guaranteed. Vacancy, repairs, financing costs, insurance, weather events and resale conditions can affect results. Private investments may be illiquid and can result in a total loss; community participation and mentoring do not remove those risks. Section 8 participation still carries landlord, maintenance and program obligations. References to fund launches, subscriptions, individual visa approvals and future projects describe the recording period. Their present availability, performance and individual outcomes have not been independently verified. This recording is not a current fund offering or invitation to subscribe. Investing does not itself grant a visa or immigration status; eligibility and approval depend on the applicable category and individual facts. The housing-shortage estimate and AI job-loss prediction in the conversation are not independently verified current statistics. This episode is not personalized financial, tax or immigration advice. Sources for this written context: https://www.investor.gov/introduction-investing/general-resources/news-alerts/alerts-bulletins/investor-bulletins/private-placements-under-regulation-d-updated-investor-bulletin https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/employment/treaty-trader-investor-visa-e.html https://www.michigan.gov/mshda/rental/hcv-landlords/housing-choice-voucher-landlords Explore Buying America: https://buyingamerica.group

  2. Oct 30

    Long-Term Property Investing: Cash Flow and Estate Planning

    Recorded in 2026. Joe Faraci and Edmundo Treviño discuss long-term property ownership, learning from experienced operators, repeatable processes, cash flow, financing and passing assets to the next generation. This archive conversation preserves their original English voices and personal experiences. Editorial corrections and context: The recording describes rental returns as guaranteed and real estate as the safest investment. Those claims should not be relied upon: property values and rent can fall, tenants can default, financing and expenses can change, and investors can lose money. Neither a system, a mentor nor membership assures a return. Interest rates affect financing costs and cash flow. Comparisons with stock-market returns in the conversation are not verified performance statistics or forecasts. The SEC's investor-education site explains that all investments involve risk: https://www.investor.gov/introduction-investing The house example is hypothetical, not a verified property or offer. Assuming a $90,000 price, $900 monthly rent and $3,000 annual operating expenses, the arithmetic is $10,800 minus $3,000 = $7,800, or about 8.67% of the assumed price before financing and income taxes. That simplified calculation does not establish the completeness of the expense estimate or account for acquisition costs and reserves, vacancies, repairs or other omitted costs; it is not a guaranteed net return or a complete leveraged-return calculation. U.S. income-tax residence and estate-tax domicile are different tests. An E-2 visa or income-tax resident status alone does not establish eligibility for the citizen/domiciliary estate-tax regime. IRS instructions define estate-tax domicile by residence plus intent, and expressly note that an income-tax resident can remain a nonresident for estate tax: https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i706na For deaths in 2026, the basic federal estate/gift exclusion for U.S. citizens and domiciliaries is $15 million per individual, subject to applicable rules and prior taxable gifts. A couple does not automatically receive a $30 million allowance; use of a deceased spouse's unused exclusion requires the relevant conditions and an estate portability election. https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i706 For a nonresident who is not a U.S. citizen, more than $60,000 in U.S.-situated assets generally triggers Form 706-NA filing; this is not a universal tax-free allowance for every foreign investor. Asset classification, credits and any applicable treaty affect the result. https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/some-nonresidents-with-us-assets-must-file-estate-tax-returns Forming an LLC or trust does not by itself establish a tax exemption, protection from every claim or a suitable estate plan. Tax planning does not eliminate the obligation to pay tax legally owed; rental deductions and depreciation have conditions. Land is not depreciable. https://www.irs.gov/publications/p527 A home remains an asset even when it produces no rent; a mortgage is a separate liability. The speakers' asset/liability shorthand expresses a cash-flow preference, not a general accounting definition. Wealth, nationality, market and family examples are personal opinions or anecdotes, not independently verified statistics. Fund, coaching and membership references are archival; current availability, terms and reported returns are not established here. This is general discussion, not individualized investment, tax, immigration or legal advice. Obtain independent advice for your circumstances.

  3. Oct 29

    Investor Q&A: Tax Planning, Advisers and Business Risk

    Recorded in 2026. Joe Faraci and Edmundo Treviño answer questions about entering the U.S. market, asking better questions of professional advisers, lawful tax planning, business risk and the value of experienced networks. This archive conversation preserves their original voices and personal experiences. Editorial corrections and context: A CPA hired by a taxpayer does not, by virtue of that engagement, work for the IRS or owe a blanket fiduciary duty to the IRS instead of the client. CPAs can represent taxpayers before the IRS, subject to professional standards and legal duties. The speakers’ criticism reflects their experiences, not a factual description of every CPA. See IRS guidance on practice and representation: https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/frequently-asked-questions A deduction reduces taxable income; it is not a dollar-for-dollar reimbursement. The computer example illustrates $1,000 of cost minus $200 of assumed tax savings, leaving $800; the savings depend on the taxpayer’s facts. Lawful planning is distinct from evasion; taxpayers must pay the tax legally owed. Business ownership alone does not make personal purchases deductible. Business-use allocation, records and applicable rules matter. Depreciation, section 179 and bonus depreciation depend on the property, eligibility, timing and limits; buying real estate does not automatically make its full price immediately deductible. Land is not depreciable, and later disposition may trigger recapture. See IRS Publication 946: https://www.irs.gov/publications/p946 Refinancing creates a repayment obligation, not investment profit. Debt principal repayments are not interest deductions, and interest deductibility depends on applicable rules and use of the proceeds. Cost segregation is not a guarantee of savings. IRS rental-property guidance: https://www.irs.gov/publications/p527 Texas generally allows most private employers to choose workers’ compensation coverage, but non-subscribers have notice and other obligations and can face employee injury lawsuits with fewer defenses. A small business is not immune from suit. Coverage: https://www.tdi.texas.gov/wc/employer/coverage.html Liability: https://efte.twc.texas.gov/workers_compensation.html The speakers’ reported savings, fees, losses and wealth examples are personal anecdotes or hypothetical illustrations, not independently verified results, current prices or forecasts. Opinions about nationality, education and investor psychology are the speakers’ views, not established statistics. The hypothetical $1 million-to-$10 million comparison is not an offer or promised return. Coaching or membership does not assure growth, protection or profitability. Membership references are archival; current availability and terms are not established here. This recording is general discussion, not individualized tax, legal or investment advice. Discuss your facts with appropriately qualified independent advisers.

  4. Oct 28

    Doing Business in the U.S.: Culture, Labor Costs and Cash Flow

    Recorded in 2026. Edmundo Treviño and Joe Faraci discuss mistakes foreign investors can make when doing business in the United States: trying to navigate an unfamiliar market alone, overlooking business culture, importing a labor-intensive model without checking local costs, and confusing an attractive property with a sound cash-flow plan. They share personal negotiation stories and discuss the tradeoffs between deploying capital in a business and buying a home. This is an archival conversation, not current market news. Written editorial clarifications: The discussion of selling a property and buying another does not establish that reinvesting automatically eliminates tax. Section 1031 can defer gain on qualifying exchanges of business or investment real property; buying something of equal or greater value is not sufficient by itself. For a deferred exchange, replacement property generally must be identified within 45 days and received by the earlier of 180 days or the tax-return due date, including extensions. Actual or constructive receipt of proceeds matters; qualified-intermediary arrangements have specific requirements. Cash, non-like-kind property or debt relief can trigger recognition of gain. A personal residence does not qualify merely because another home is purchased. Consult a qualified tax professional before a transaction. IRS references: https://www.irs.gov/publications/p544 and https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/like-kind-exchanges-real-estate-tax-tips Refinancing creates debt that must be repaid; it is not a guaranteed return or a universal tax-free strategy across countries. Debt cancellation can have tax consequences. IRS reference: https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc431 The speakers' wage comparisons, mortgage rates, business outcomes and the $15,000 monthly cash-flow example are historical statements or illustrations, not independently verified current quotes, investment results or guarantees. Rental income and appreciation are uncertain; expenses, vacancy and financing affect outcomes. Personal anecdotes are not universal rules about national cultures. The closing percentage about people who never start is opinion, not a verified statistic. Renting versus buying depends on personal circumstances, costs and time horizon. A home is an asset and a mortgage is an obligation; calling all homes liabilities is an oversimplification. CFPB reference: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/owning-a-home/prepare/consider-whether-its-the-right-time-for-you-to-buy/ Original English voices; no new narration. References to programs, offers or immigration assistance reflect the recording and do not confirm current availability, eligibility or visa approval. This episode is general discussion, not personalized legal, tax or investment advice. More from Buying America: https://buyingamerica.group/

  5. Oct 27

    Buying a Business or Starting One: E-2 Investment, Financing and Due Diligence

    Recorded in 2026, from the HOU_FEB 26 archive; the exact recording day has not been independently established. Joe Faraci, Edmundo Treviño and Tomás compare buying an operating business with starting one for an E-2 investment visa. They discuss due diligence, franchises, financing, partnerships, business plans and the distinction between passive property ownership and an operating business. Archive corrections and context, reviewed October 27, 2026. The original voices are preserved; several statements need qualification: E-2 rules explicitly define marginality: the business must have the present or future capacity to provide more than a minimal living for the investor's family, or make a significant economic contribution. Future capacity should generally develop within five years. There is no universal requirement to hire one, two or three employees, or a compulsory mix of W-2 staff and contractors. Substantial investment is assessed proportionally to the business cost; US$50,000 is not a fixed eligibility threshold. Treaty nationality and the investor's control must be established; a partnership or merger alone does not qualify. Capital must be committed and at risk. Qualifying visa-contingent escrow is permitted; the audio's suggestion that escrow is no longer allowed is incorrect. Moving money into an LLC account does not by itself establish an investment. Creating two LLCs does not automatically qualify a property business. Financing requires individual review. A loan secured by the investment enterprise's assets does not count as qualifying at-risk investment; personally secured or unsecured funding is treated differently. The examples of 80% financing, seller financing, reinvested revenue and withdrawing capital after refinancing are not blanket approval strategies. Review ownership, control, capital commitment and continuing eligibility before changing a structure or taking money out. A franchise, strong sales or spending money does not guarantee approval. The speaker's 90% success figure, claimed franchise preference and 60% franchise statistic are unverified historical statements, not predictions for a listener. Personal anecdotes about correcting refusals are not a promise that any refusal can be cured. Page limits, document lists, fees, timelines and invitations to work with the speakers are historical references; check the relevant consular post's current instructions. A visa's validity and permission to remain in the country are separate matters. Visitor status does not authorize ordinary employment or hands-on construction work. Business-visitor activities are limited; obtain advice on the specific activity before travel. The SBA's March 2026 announcement restricted its guaranteed lending programs to qualifying U.S.-citizen or U.S.-national owners; permanent residence alone is not eligibility under that announcement. Confirm the current program and lender rules before arranging financing. General discussion only, not individualized immigration, investment or tax advice. Sources for these written notes: E-2 regulation, 8 CFR 214.2(e): https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-8/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-214/subpart-A/section-214.2 Consular E-visa guidance: https://fam.state.gov/fam/09FAM/09FAM040209.html Business-visitor activities: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/business/b-1-fact-sheet.html SBA March 2026 announcement: https://legacy.sba.gov/article/2026/03/09/sba-bans-foreign-nationals-accessing-sba-backed-loans

  6. Oct 26

    The American Dream: EB-5 Investment, Source of Funds and Risk

    Recorded in 2026, from the HOU_FEB 26 archive; exact recording date not independently established. Joe Faraci, Edmundo Treviño and Tomás discuss immigrant entrepreneurship, EB-5 regional-center and direct investments, lawful source-of-funds documentation, and the difference between investment and a government contribution. They consider property equity, retirement savings and the practical questions families bring to an immigration attorney. Archive corrections and context, reviewed October 26, 2026: the original voices and discussion are preserved. Statements about buying a green card, guaranteed repayment, eligibility, fees and processing times must not be treated as current instructions or promises. EB-5: the standard statutory investment minimum is US$1,050,000; US$800,000 applies to qualifying targeted-employment-area or infrastructure investments, not every project. The program requires qualifying job creation and lawful capital. A business plan or a US$50,000 startup does not waive the applicable investment requirement. Documentation depends on the facts; the reference to ten years of records is not a universal checklist. The statute specifies seven years of tax returns, or another period determined by DHS, alongside other evidence. Having home equity or a retirement balance alone does not establish an eligible investment. Capital is at risk. The repeated suggestion that investors will eventually receive their principal back is not a guarantee: investors can lose capital, and a visa or removal of residency conditions can be denied. USCIS regional-center designation does not endorse an investment's quality. A conditional-residence period and an investment's repayment schedule are different matters. Project examples, returns, administrative charges and financing arrangements in the audio are unverified illustrations, not current offers or government endorsements. The September 2026 EB-5 fee rule takes effect November 30, 2026; the audio's filing-fee estimate is not a current fee schedule. Gold Card: the conversation's speculative prices and claim that applications were unavailable are historical statements, not verified current status. The September 19, 2025 executive order specified a US$1 million individual gift or US$2 million corporate-sponsored gift, subject to legal eligibility and security screening. It did not promise automatic citizenship or guaranteed admission. Check current official requirements before acting. Processing and visa availability depend on the case; the quoted months or years are not reliable deadlines. E-2 is a separate nonimmigrant category, not an automatic conversion to EB-5. The discussion of undocumented status is simplified: unlawful-presence bars can be three or ten years under the statute, with exceptions and limited waivers; obtain individual legal review before travel. RRSP withdrawals generally have Canadian tax consequences, and locked-in plans restrict access. Neither refinancing nor retirement withdrawals are blanket recommendations. Entrepreneurship rankings and Canadian housing-price anecdotes are not established as current statistics here. General discussion only, not individualized legal, tax or investment advice. Sources for these written notes: EB-5 statute: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2024-title8/html/USCODE-2024-title8-chap12-subchapII-partI-sec1153.htm DHS September 2026 fee rule: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-09-30/html/2026-20016.htm SEC and USCIS investor alert: https://www.sec.gov/files/investor/alerts/ia_immigrant.htm Gold Card executive order: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/09/the-gold-card/ Unlawful-presence statute: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2024-title8/html/USCODE-2024-title8-chap12-subchapII-partII-sec1182.htm Canadian RRSP withdrawals: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/topics/rrsps-related-plans/making-withdrawals.html

  7. Oct 25

    Real Estate Portfolios: Leverage, Cash Flow and Investor Mindset

    Recorded in 2026. Joe Faraci and Edmundo Treviño discuss the shift from chasing individual property deals to evaluating a portfolio: cash flow, financing, taxes, professional relationships and continued learning. They compare active property flipping with longer-term ownership and explain why they value experience alongside capital. Editorial notes for this archive recording: the original conversation is preserved, including statements that need qualification. No new narration has been added. The statement that Uber had never made a profit is incorrect. Uber reported positive full-year GAAP operating income and net income for 2023, before this recording. Its February 2024 results distinguish those measures from adjusted EBITDA. Interest rates affect borrowing costs and cash flow. A future rate reduction, refinancing approval, higher property value or positive rental cash flow is not assured. The Austin price-decline claim is an undated anecdote, not a market statistic independently established here. Dollar amounts, return percentages and property examples in the conversation are illustrations, not verified investment results, forecasts or offers. Descriptions of a nationality or country reflect the speakers' experiences, not universal findings. Tax deductions do not make an investment automatically tax-free. Land is not depreciable; buildings and eligible components have different recovery rules, and accelerated deductions are not available for every asset. Deductibility and loss limitations depend on the taxpayer and property. Genuine loan proceeds generally are not income because they must be repaid; cash-out refinancing creates debt, not a tax-free investment return. Interest deductibility depends on the use of proceeds, and later sales or debt cancellation can have tax consequences. The remark that banks do not care about a passport is too broad: banks have customer-identification obligations, including identification requirements for non-U.S. persons. Account opening and financing remain subject to the institution's requirements. A passive role, fund, syndication or experienced sponsor does not remove risk: private placements can be illiquid and can lose all invested capital. Historical invitations to invest in the recording do not establish a current offering or eligibility. This episode is general discussion, not individualized investment, tax or legal advice. Sources for these written notes: Uber 2023 results: https://investor.uber.com/files/doc_earnings/2023/q4/earnings-result/Uber-Q4-23-Earnings-Press-Release.pdf IRS rental property: https://www.irs.gov/publications/p527 IRS loans and cancellation: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/home-foreclosure-and-debt-cancellation CFPB refinancing: https://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/documents/cfpb_should_i_refinance_handout.pdf Bank identification: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-31/subtitle-B/chapter-X/part-1020/subpart-B/section-1020.220 SEC private-placement risks: https://www.investor.gov/introduction-investing/general-resources/news-alerts/alerts-bulletins/investor-bulletins/private-placements-under-regulation-d-updated-investor-bulletin

  8. Oct 24

    Building U.S. Credit: ITINs, Secured Cards and Banking Relationships

    Recorded in 2026. Joe Faraci and Edmundo Treviño discuss personal and business credit, banking relationships, ITINs and secured cards, drawing on their experiences with U.S. property and business financing. The conversation also considers moving from an ITIN to an SSN and an issuer's international card relationship program. Original English voices are preserved; the repeated opening teaser and closing graphics have been removed, without removing substantive conversation. Editorial clarifications accompanying this archive recording: Credit scores and personal worth: the guests' language about trust and a person's value expresses their perspective, not a measure of human worth. Statements that all insurance, government permits or financial products require a credit score should not be read as universal requirements. Check the actual program, jurisdiction and lender. Debt and scores: the recording's claim that not having a mortgage necessarily lowers a person's score is too broad. CFPB guidance says outstanding debt is not required for a good score. Carrying an interest-bearing balance or taking a mortgage just to improve a score is not required. Its advice to apply only for needed credit also differs from treating repeated new accounts as an automatic improvement. Closing an account can affect utilization, but the recording's instruction never to close any card is not a universal rule. Costs and circumstances matter; no score increase or one-year result is promised. Secured cards: a deposit does not eliminate the obligation to pay or the possibility of fees, interest and damage from missed payments. CFPB describes secured cards as one possible way to establish a record, not guaranteed approval. Confirm the issuer's terms and credit-bureau reporting; a larger deposit is not a guaranteed score increase. A bank account by itself is different from a reported credit account. The guests' percentage examples are illustrations, not individual targets. ITIN and SSN: an ITIN requires a federal tax purpose and ineligibility for an SSN; it is not issued simply to start building credit. It does not grant immigration status or work authorization, and neither an ITIN nor a visa guarantees credit or an SSN. After an SSN is assigned, IRS instructions say to stop using the ITIN for tax purposes and notify the IRS so tax records can be combined. Updating lenders' records is a separate process; this episode cannot guarantee automatic credit-file merging. International history: the recording's claim that foreign history can never matter is overbroad. American Express's Global Card Relationship may use an existing account history when evaluating a new local card application in selected countries. That is not an automatic transfer of a foreign credit score, balance or identical limit, and approval and terms remain subject to the issuer. The recording's amounts and processing anecdotes are historical examples, not current offers. Business financing and taxes: personal credit, guarantees and nonrecourse terms depend on the product and underwriting; the conversation does not establish one mandatory path for every business. IRS Publication 946 explains that qualifying property may be depreciable even when financed, subject to ownership, use and other requirements. Borrowing or buying a vehicle does not automatically create an immediate full deduction. Interest deductibility also has qualifications and limits. The guests' low-rate and property examples do not establish that borrowing is always better than paying cash or that debt will overcome inflation. The closing “piggyback” invitation is part of the historical conversation, not a current offer in this release. Authorized-user arrangements do not necessarily build an independent credit history or secure financing; other parties' missed payments or excessive charges can also create risk. No tradeline, lending, tax or immigration service, approval or result is guaranteed here. Sources for these written clarifications, checked October 24, 2026: CFPB — Credit scores: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/how-do-i-get-and-keep-a-good-credit-score-en-318/ CFPB — Rebuilding credit: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/credit-reports-and-scores/how-to-rebuild-your-credit/ IRS — ITIN and transition to SSN: https://www.irs.gov/tin/itin/individual-taxpayer-identification-number-itin American Express — Global Card Relationship: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/customer-service/global-card-relationship/ IRS — Depreciation, Publication 946: https://www.irs.gov/publications/p946 IRS — Interest expense, Topic 505: https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc505 CFPB — Cosigning loans and sharing credit (2022 educational guide): https://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/documents/cfpb_building_block_activities_cosigning-loans-sharing-credit_guide.pdf These notes clarify the written release; the recorded statements have not been rewritten or corrected in the audio. Historical market references and personal experiences are not current product terms or individualized financial, tax, legal or immigration advice.

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About

Buying America is the English-language podcast for international investors exploring real estate, business and building a life in the United States. Conversations with the Buying America founders about investing across borders. Visit https://buyingamerica.group for more.

Information

  • Creator
    Buying America
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    Buying America