Market Analysis

[Michael Smith]

Hey BP,

I'm looking at the possibility of investing in a new market in a different state (we have family there, and might be moving in a few years). I'm curious, what tools/websites/resources have you found helpful in analyzing important economic factors in different markets?

For example, how can I tell if the population and jobs are trending up or down? And how can I find out how diverse the local economy is by sector (finance, manufacturing, health care, etc)? What else should I be looking for?

Thanks!