vik_c - 8:42 am on Aug 10, 2010 (gmt 0)

It seems like you could get a big, new house with an indoor pool with a waterfall...

Houses may be cheap to buy but they're very expensive to maintain..property tax, cleaning, heating/cooling, repairs etc. If you're lucky, capital appreciation will make up for it but it's not a chance one should take as an immigrant, IMHO.