From my perspective us investors are realists, and pretty pessimistic as we have a lot at stake in a far off place, so only natural to get a bit negative.

I agree the agents give a rosy picture, but this does balance our own negativity and I welcome it to be honest!

One thing we must all be mindful of is that no matter what property you buy there are often snaggs and dissapointments. Near me some very expensive executive town homes were built by a high profile, high end builder. The local papers had many stories documenting all sorts of snaggs, from leaking skylights, cracks to mould.

__________________
Been investing abroad a few years. Always amazed people invest in places that produce just a few months rent per year