What to look for when evaluating markets

[Gabriel Rouse]

Im wondering what are the fundamental things to look for when evaluating and researching a market to invest and spend time in.

[Caroline Gerardo]

Location - your driveability to location, cost of average unit, jobs, unemployment in location, crime stats, average market rents, school ratings.

Census information is free, crime stats are free, school ratings also free... There is software(s) you can pay for to look at data and make an analytical decision.

Go at night and during the day. See the traffic counts. See if guys with stuff run up to your car. Are children walking to school in the morning? Are there bars on the windows?

Can you afford the down payment? Can you get financing? Would you live there?

Conventional lenders (who have lower rates) won't do tiny loans - hits on the back side of head with government high cost loans. So some markets are too low to make it cost effective. 

What is your appetite for risk, how much labor do you want to input?