With immigration reform the new hot topic in Washington (along with pretty much everything else that is), we thought it intriguing that, as Bloomberg notes, the government's program allowing foreign 'entrepreneurs' to purchase so-called EB-5 visas saw its numbers more than double in 2012 (up from 69 in 2002 to 3,677 in 2012). The program allows the foreigners 'Alien Residence' status providing they 'show' they will spur 10 jobs for every $500,000 spent. We wonder how much of that 'investment' has flowed directly into cash purchases of REO-to-rent property with some well-drafted white paper explanation for how real-estate-based Keynesian multipliers will create magnitudes more jobs from that spending. "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free... your 'anyone with some cash please...."
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Source: Bloomberg