How to find out going rate for rental properties?

[Chris Lawlor]

Hi Folks, 

A bit of a rookie question here, but how do you find out the average rental rates for properties in a target area? I know that you can analyse deals on BP, but I find that a lot of the time, there isn't a lot of information for comparable properties in my target area (Capital Region, NY).

Appreciate any suggestions. 

[Nathan Gesner]

There are web sites that compile basic data like that. Most states have cost of living tables for every county, maybe even every major city, that probably includes rent for different types of housing. We have it in Wyoming so I'm sure other states do the same. It looks something like this: