DIY vs Aussie Agent

There is a pro and cons for everything, here are outlined the pros and cons of doing it yourself vs using an agent.

Using an Agent:

Cons
You will get a lower yield of around 12 to 18%
You will still have to do your own due diligence as you can not rely 100 per cent on their due diligence.
There will be extra cost involved on simple steps like setting up LLC, etc
The agents job comes at a price and you will find that some of the properties are marked up
You might still want to travel to the US to check up the property in which case you are still spending money reassuring their due diligence.

Pros
You could get away with not flying to the US to inspect the property.
You will have a back up of your own due diligence.
They will guide you all the way
You will save time


DIY
Pros
You save money by doing it yourself.
You get to enjoy  the experience firsthand of buying a property
you earn a higher net margin or yield.

Cons
You have to make sure that you do your due diligence right as there is no back ups.
You might get advantage of as you are from overseas
You need time and money to get to the States.