Per this NY Times article, the average American knows around 600 people.https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/19/science/the-average-american-knows-how-many-people.html#:~:text=The%20average%20American%20knows%20about,do%20you%20know%20named%20Kevin%3FPer the US Census Bureau, the average American moves 11.7 time in their life, which based upon an approximate lifespan of 84 years, works out to be about every 7 years.https://www.census.gov/topics/population/migration/guidance/calculating-migration-expectancy.html#:~:text=Using%202007%20ACS%20data%2C%20it,one%20move%20per%20single%20yearSo, if the average American knows 600 people and they each move about every 7 years, that means that the average American knows around 85 people that move in any given year.How many of those moves do you want to be involved in?

There is a art vs. science.

The episode was from Dec 6 2018 called “The Science Behind Setting And Achieving Large Goals.

This is an art and science and most do it wrong.No I do not pay for marketing.

They have it down to a science almost. 

Of course it is far from a science and there are some trades this doesn't work with, but it gets you ballpark.

I have also been fascinated by the single-family and duplexes just south of this area and I’m going to look there while I am in town.    

Again, if you can gauge your RETURNS, you can calculate the TIME it will take using some simple math.Long story short, as you've already figured out, there's no rocket science here. 

This is where analysis becomes a bit more of an art than a science. 

Ever since we bought and fixed-up our first home in 2006, then sold it to move up a couple years later, I've found real estate to be fascinating and fun, and have analyzed and consulted on deals for friends who have invested.