All Forum Posts by: Shane W.

Hi guys,

So we're trying to get our head around all the different tools and resources readily available on the internet. Our goal is to narrow them down to a select group that can provide most of the data we require such as economy, job growth, demographics etc.

What are your best online tools for researching potential areas to purchase for buy and hold?

Currently we use Redfin, Zillow, Mapliv, Rentometer, City Data and Best Places.

Are there any other great tools out there we may have missed? Or maybe some of the ones we've listed you think aren't that great?

Either way your suggestions or input will be a huge help.

Thanks.

Sorry @Jeff Greenberg @Account Closed and I are out as we both have to work. Definitely keen to meet local investors if there are more events on the horizon. Please keep us in the loop and thanks for organizing this one.

Thanks @Andrew Villalobos yeah that's what we're planning in the coming weeks. Research the areas we like and do some drive arounds.

Good luck with the open house!

@Joey Dwyer awesome info about the rail system. Although even if if does get approved no doubt it will take 20 years to complete :) But seriously thanks for the tip. I think that area is going back on our list.

Thanks @Peter Mckernan I'll check them out.

Thanks @Gene Hacker . Yeah my thoughts of Bakersfield are shared.

And being an Aussie I'm all to familiar with how a draught can impact an area and it's livelihood.

30% up? That's interesting considering it's unstable future...

@Matt R. any thoughts on Palm Desert area?

@Ali Boone I think our main concern about driving there is we want to see the property first hand. Also if we were to buy a property that needed rehabbing it would be good to have the option of driving out there if there's any problems. Plus also meet all the people involved in person. These I guess are only initial concerns, but yes we will use a PM, so longterm we won't be needing to head out there very much.

And yes the Fresno area is now on our list as @Chris Williams and @Elizabeth Colegrove comment about $1800 a month for rent on a $300k property is insane. I guess in this situation the buyer/seller is relying a lot on appreciation, which seems to be the only way to make money in CA at the moment?

Yeah it's tough although we can't really complain living in SoCal!

Texas is on our radar too. Just need to research a lot more...

@Tim G. congrats on the 1,000 post!

Yeah we're dabbling with out of state too, we just don't feel completely comfortable doing that given it's our first experience. We're both smart people and will do all our analyzing before actually buying, but the not being able to see the property first hand is a bit of a deal breaker.

What states are you contemplating?