How to stand out in a crowded rental market?

[Adam Pridmore]

I am currently shopping for my second rental property in an area that is undergoing revitalization and should offer nice capital appreciation down the road.

The problem I am running into is this area already has a crowded rental market, including many section 8 properties. If information I find on Zillow is accurate then it appears many of these properties are staying vacant for many months at a time (perhaps these are the properties that are not listed as section 8?) The mortgage on this particular property would be one that I could handle paying out of pocket for months at a time, but I don’t know if it’s going to be worth battling constantly as I hold out for long term appreciation.

Each area that I look at with properties in the price range that I am shopping seem to have this same issue... I am becoming rather frustrated and am looking for insight from the community.

Thanks in advance for any feedback you all can provide.

[Marc Winter]

@Joseph Cacciapaglia speaks true.  Zillow and other sites are algorithm-based programs, and although many cherish this data-driven overview, real estate on a local level is always a person-based business.  Speak to Realtors, property managers, other local investors, and tenants.  

Go and physically inspect properties in your chosen area.  Know what is overpriced, what is undervalued.  If you don't know your market, you won't know a bargain when you see one.  They are there, but it takes consistent hunting to bag a great deal.

Good luck and keep moving forward!