I am analyzing potential properties through the BP analytical tools and often feel I need a better umbrella overview of the Chicago market to then narrow down to witch neighborhoods I feel best investing in being a new investor.  

Aaron - yes that’s google analytics - it’s intricate but once you figure out digital marketing - it will be the gift that keeps on giving.

Although REI is new to me, I hope my strong problem solving, analytical, and management skill can grow our investment with fruitful outcome.

I am a Data and Analytics Specialist so I let the numbers talk for me.

My point is.....there are problems with every state but you have to do your own analytics to know if something doesn’t work for you or not, not just going by what people say(including me).

For a number of nerdy analytic reasons I started to become pessimistic about long term stock market returns and was looking for another investment vehicle to diversify my stock holdings and began considering real estate. 

Reading comments from Micki M. makes me feel confident about my analytical skills, but a little more depressed about the market I am trying to enter. 

I work full time in the Health Insurance business as a Manager of Analytics.

In the series, I also actually found the Cashflow Quadrant (the second installment I believe) to be more useful than the first book.As for specific suggestions, I think newbies need to learn to analyze all of the REI profit centers, and compare the projected returns against the risk you are taking and the time and effort you are putting in to achieve those returns ... that is far trickier to do than just come up with a CoC return from an online calculator, but it is essential IMO if you want to succeed over the long term in the REI business (and yes, it is starting a business, just like starting any other business).To review, the profit centers of REI are:1)Cash flow (which changes over time, so don't assume year 10 will look like day 1)2)Appreciation (both forced and market)3)Mortgage Pay Down (through loan amortization)4)Tax savingsThe best way IMO to combine all of these into a single analytical framework is to project the financials from purchase to sale (or cash out refinance) and compute the IRR.

I analyze properties through the BiggerPockets rental calculator to show them the analytics.