The interesting thing about this article is that its statistics also suggest that people who are renting should be buying - but that is also great for people with rental properties because the values of those properties will continue to be pushed higher than they already are in what most are describing as a heated market across the country. 

@Christopher TellesI think what these statistics show is the appreciation percentage of the highest appreciated areas per median priced houses in those areas in LA county.

Statistically, with the tightened lending guidelines in the post Dodd-Frank environment, banks end up funding somewhere in the neighborhood of 65% of the loans that borrowers apply for.  

But unlike the US, there is no CAFR for me to see the city statistics. 

If it is a law office that will be handling the assignment do I need to be aware of any sales techniques they  will try on me when I bring them the paper work (I imagine the  lawyer puffing a cigar sitting back in his chair staring at me with a bright white suite on looking like colonel sanders and  saying with a serious look on his face "son , I do believe you need to get x and x insurance because there are lot's of scams out there, protect yourself and don't be another  statistic, while you're at it you need to buy Advance Contract Performance Processing so your paper work does not get lost or something, it really is the smart thing to do in my professional opinion.

But simple and timeless is often the most cost effective solution, because the odds that your tenant or buyer will like bamboo flooring is statistically low.

Actually the Starting Point, which is a MLS Realtor tool that comes up with a statistical analysis (not to be confused with appraisal, but it gives a ball park figure far more accurate then Zillow) is $162,000.  

I WILL DO WELL AT THIS NOT ONLY BECAUSE I HAVE THE WORK ETHIC OF A MARINE, BUT MY PRIDE WONT LET ME BECOME A STATISTIC OF THOSE DUPED BY A SCAM.

Brad, where do you find a statistic like that?

Don't just think about the property as the place where you are going to live, but think about it as an investment and study neighborhood trends, schools, bus lines/transportation, proximity to amenities like a park or ball field and of course, crime statistics.