Granted that's apples and oranges, because the new homes are larger and all in the suburbs, but as long as you can buy an existing home for half the price per square foot than a new construction home I would be careful with expecting peak appreciation.

I know because we have a 5 acre piece that is worth 200k and if we added a 6k square foot metal building, we could sell it for 450k all day long. 

I think if you understand the price per unit as well as the price per square foot in the zip code and nearby zip codes that will give you a good idea of the comparable market analysis approach and appraiser might use.

I’m also scared of the downsizing aspect; we’d probably be looking at going from 1800sq feet single family home to 1100sq foot townhome).

I had an AC unit stolen - thieves climbed a 7 foot fence on my Class C house (I didn't have security cameras on this house). 

Cold called this property owner who wants $150K for this 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom 928 square foot home. 

Typically flooring guys charge a flat install per square foot and then more for stairs.

Density is coming to the area which will bring foot traffic and potential consumers to make the commercial spaces on the ground floor worth owning.

I would be interested to know how you make out with this , I’ve been analyzing properties in that area for a while but the best deals were always gone before I got my foot in the door.

but if you have $0 in savings, thousands of dollars in credit card debt, and have never set foot inside an actual house for sale, you have no business paying for coaching, or buying houses.