Adi is an investor at heart. From early adulthood onwards, he’s been investing in the U.S. stock market. After learning about U.S. real estate, he decided to diversify his portfolio by purchasing an investment property. People told him that he was crazy. It was widely believed that foreign investors faced too many obstacles buying real estate in the U.S. But with Waltz as his not-so-secret weapon, Adi was able to navigate the entire purchasing process smoothly.
Adi is a 27-year-old electrical engineer from Israel. By nature, he loves to research and understand how things work. When he first discovered real estate investing, he began diving into the subject with enthusiasm, devouring books and online resources to learn as much as he could.
Inspired by this new interest, he set a goal to purchase his first property. Perhaps the biggest problem he faced was that financing to create leverage was part of his investment strategy. The vast majority of lenders, including ones that Adi interviewed, told him “no.” They listed U.S. credit as one of many reasons why financing was hard to come by for foreign nationals like him.
That didn’t stop him– he achieved his goal within just eight months.
Adi is now focused on expanding his portfolio with hopes of someday becoming a full-time real estate investor and entrepreneur.
Adi knew that he wanted to invest in the Sun Belt–a term for the sunny, Southern U.S. ranging from Arizona to Florida– where the majority of U.S. population growth is occurring. The other important criteria Adi set for himself was to buy a newly built property. As a first-time investor, he wanted a rental property with minimal maintenance.
He was able to check both boxes.
The perfect opportunity came in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Adi purchased a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom single-family property from a reputable turnkey provider that specializes in fixing up properties and building brand-new ones.
Working with a turnkey company made it easier for Adi to learn the process to find the right property. Just as the turnkey company simplified the property search, Adi was hoping to find a lender experienced with foreign nationals to ensure a smooth experience securing financing.
In his research, Adi spoke with fellow Israelis as well as other international investors about investing in U.S. real estate. They often mentioned a variety of challenges non-U.S. investors face, but Adi was undeterred. He knew going into real estate investing that these would be some of his main challenges from abroad:
Long-distance investing: Adi lives 6,500 miles away from Tuscaloosa, Alabama. As such, he was aware that signing paperwork may present a challenge while living halfway across the globe. In addition, he knew that foreign exchange, LLC formation, and establishing a U.S. bank account would be vital components of a successful venture. It was just a matter of figuring out how to do so correctly.
Financing: Securing financing as a foreigner seemed nearly impossible with a need for U.S.-based credit and income as a main requirement of many lenders. He knew that most foreign investors paid cash, but “I wanted to find a way to leverage real estate with financing, so that I can scale faster,” Adi noted. He began to explore options to see if there were in fact any lenders willing to help him secure financing as a foreign national.
Uncertainty: As much as Adi loves to research, certain aspects of the real estate process can only be fully understood through experience. The sequence of steps, key players at each juncture, and timing of each phase all vary from deal to deal. With this being his first U.S. real estate purchase, he wanted to feel prepared for the unknown, even if he didn’t know exactly what to prepare for.
Luckily, Adi was introduced to Waltz. Knowing that Waltz was born out of frustration from similar challenges gave him tremendous confidence moving forward. With Waltz by his side, Adi was surrounded by experienced experts who guided him through the property purchase process.
Once Adi selected Waltz, no time was wasted. Within minutes, he successfully established an LLC with an Employer Identification Number (EIN) and opened a U.S. bank account. On top of that, he was able to secure financing without the requirement of a U.S. credit score or U.S.-based income, streamlining the process significantly.
From start to finish, it took Adi about four weeks to close. Adi went on to say that “the process felt very natural with Waltz.” Here are some of the reasons that stood out the most to him:
Experience: Even for a first time investor who had never been through the loan process before, Adi was able to navigate each step without confusion. He credited this to an experienced team and streamlined process: “the support Waltz provided gave me a lot of confidence. Waltz helps you complete deals and makes things happen.”
Support every step of the way: From initial setup to securing financing, Waltz provided clear guidance at each stage, ensuring Adi never felt alone in the process. Whenever he had questions, “Waltz had great answers for everything, giving me the feeling that I was in good hands” with a team that was readily available to offer expert advice and practical solutions.
By the end of the process, Adi even said “there was really good support–we felt like friends. It was very helpful to know that if I needed someone or something, I was working with a team that I trust.”
Completely digital: Adi greatly appreciated the fact that he could purchase U.S. real estate without having to set foot in Alabama. From end-to-end it was a fully digital, paper-free process, in fact he shared that “any other way would be uncomfortable and old-fashioned. Waltz was simple and the digital platform allowed me to complete everything with ease.”
After completing his first deal in a seamless manner, he’s now recommending everyone he knows to work with Waltz. Adi is already looking for more investment opportunities where he would use Waltz as a lender and confidante. This time, he’s hoping to bring friends and colleagues along– he aspires to teach people about the power of investing in U.S. real estate, even from far away.
