Uk Investor looking at Cleveland/Detroit Areas

[Sam Bastin]

Hi,

I am so new to this, so apologies if I appear like a fish out of water. My wife and I have stumbled across some properties for sale in Cleveland, also Detroit and possibly Atlanta. The properties are being advertised by a management company over here, and have the usual blurb, "Tennant already in place", "20% returns" etc. But we also have many forums warning us off of investing in areas like this.

Some say that they have gone months with no tenants, and that the details they get sent are false and in fact the house they own is in ruins.

We like the idea of doing this, primarily because the property price is cheap, but we don't want to lose £40k in doing so. I have read some of the discussions on here, but its aimed at the American buyer not English. Also can anyone guide me a little on what the Section 8 means. I understand its a government thing, but do any guarantees come with it?

Sorry for being a bit simple, but we are literally dipping our toe in for the first time.

Thanks

Sam