I'm not sure the methodology behind the figures and it could be inflated by returns from large real estate groups that bought up high numbers of homes after the crash.  

Thomas, if I knew nothing about credit, I would just follow your model on the 650 fico, the law of averages not only favors your methodology, but the elegance of it puts you in a better spot, should anyone make a claim you were acting discriminatory.

Being consistent with you apply your own methodology in filing your taxes probably needs to stay constant though.

The IRS describes 6 different methodologies: detailed engineering from actual cost records, detailed engineering using cost estimation, survey or letter, residual estimation, sampling or modeling and rule of thumb.

My methodology is very very conservative.

I know someone is going to quote a recent (either "Business Week" or "Fortune") magazine article showing huge appreciation, particularly in the bigger cities; DFW, HOU, SAT, AUS, HOWEVER, no one has ever shown me the methodology used in that study and everything I've looked at in those markets changes when you BACK THE NEW CONSTRUCTION out of the equation.In my local market the appraisal district tried to jack our numbers up and I protested.

I don't have the exact property yet as I was more or less questioning through procedure and methodology behind it.

The new methodology of MRE shelf life says 5 years.

What is your methodology of evalutaing a deal then?

When looking at the Case-Shiller data be aware of how they collect it.If you go to the methodology page there will be an explanation.