What are best tools/ analytic resources for analyzing deals?

[Susan O.]

I'm looking for OOS properties. Some areas I don't know much about.  

What are some suggested tools. I've used City-Data forums also I use crime maps sometimes but i feel that it's not very accurate in depicting things

Is there a aggregated site that pulls census data/ real estate sales etc and has a lot of analytics for searching markets?

I was wondering about heat maps that show good and bad neighborhoods as well?  There's some things like Neighborhoodscout but you have to pay and i've never actually used

[Nicholas L.]

@Susan O. my opinion is that, if you are going to invest out of state, you really need to get to know the target market in a way that you can't just Google.  This could mean visiting, seeing properties, networking, building your Core 4, etc.

Or you can check out previous threads on BP about which specific markets and sub-markets OOS investors buy in.