You do not have to become a believer in modern portfolio theory (I am not) but you are not educated if you don’t know it exists and how influential it has become - its tenets (not tenants) literally percolate through much of what you see written in the popular press about investing, retirement strategies, diversification, etc.Statistics - A one semester or one quarter course in statistics will serve you very well all your life, and open your eyes to a deeper understanding of probability and risk.Accounting - You really do need to have a conceptual understanding of what balance sheets, cash flow statements and profit and loss means.

I am trying  to get my kids excited and bold about DIY!

They have some information value, and can be a 'general guide' to the topic being researched - in this case, housing affordability - but they should not be interpreted to be the definitive authority.Dividing a median home price in any city by the median income of that city has some inherent statistical issues.

The letter actually has the "if and when" you connect section italicized and bolded so I don't think they will charge me while I own the property if I don't connect.

Most states will have good markets and bad ones so it will be more helpful to start at a Metropolitan Statistical Area where there is a lot of economic and demographic information readily available.

Yeah, I know it's bold (or maybe just stupid) to FSBO but I think one of these services will give me a little more warm and fuzzy feeling about doing it.Postlets is a good idea whether I use ListingSpark or not.  

There's a saying: "Statistics are like bikinis: What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital."

I'd rather see them be bold enough to share here on BP, before they get sucked into some pay-for-my-secrets guru vortex.

Plus, it's in their best interest to make it seem like this is a very daunting task, so I wouldn't necessarily be deterred by their statistics. 

Statistically, a handful of those are bound to be bad apples.