Numerous times I have been able to think through an issues that arose on a construction site and saved the Owner by proposing an alternate route to resolve it. 

Unlike Robert K and many on this site, I judge a property based on total return.  

Do you need or want monthly cashflow, tax write-offs, betting on appreciation,....   

Things they did bad which I wish I had asked more information about:Never involved in the screening of tenantsThey recommended keys for cash by waiving the rent amount buy only collecting fees which they would get not meThe cost to evict is 750-950 yet other companies told me they will include eviction in the priceThe tenant didnt pay in full last month and I was the one calling out to them and asking questions then a few days later I get an email saying something happened with the tenant and they are investigating.You get passed from person to person every week or so.No one told me when the construction was complete and so the house was ready for a week and the post to zillow and other sites was not done.It took them another week to take pictures and then another week to upload it.I was paying 200 dollar a month electric bills while the house was vacant because they left the AC running in the empty property.

Ok, I wasn't spamming (I don't even sell anything I could spam) but I was pasting a "hi" message to new members THE SITE RECOMMENDED TO ME.

If you or anyone you know would like to join us as a participant or presenter, please contact me via the Meetup site or message me on Bigger Pockets.

We do land entitlement so we control all sites and tie them up until zoning is approved. we don't buy land that we can't entitle first

That’s the best bet.

City-Data and Census.gov are solid resources, and sites like Rentometer can give you a good sense of rental prices.After that, I narrow it down to neighborhoods with strong fundamentals—good schools, low crime, and convenient amenities.

Toxic waste site on Super Fund List  6.