RE Key Performance Indicators - Deals

[Andrew McFarlane]

Hey Everyone,

I am new to the Real Estate business and trying to learn all I can before going out and getting my first property. I am a financial analyst for my career; thereby, making me a big numbers guy.

1. What are some of the Key Performance Indicators for a market that show whether it is going up, down or sideways?

2. Where can you find this information? (Statistics on the market, homes, properties, etc.)

3. Also, what are some of the rules of thumb, equations, and statistics you would want to look at to know if a property is a good buy? (I'm looking at starting with a duplex)

4. Lastly, are there some key indicators that are not numbers related that you look at? (i.e. the renters already in place, the people that were there before, the road the property is on, etc.)