My day job is in Data and Analytics. 

I agree with both of you; the internal financial expert can post a debit and credit, and also (perhaps more importantly) partner with you in formulating more strategic portfolio management/performance analytics.

Just something for thought.Sign up for Marcus/Millichap and they have reports of the top metros in the US every year and a breakdown of the analytics.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to where to look for good market analytics?

My day job is analytically oriented, so by nature I won't make a deal unless I'm sound in the numbers; at the same time I've seen it mentioned here numerous times that the biggest recommendation is to start making actions.Hope your week is going well as we approach Thanksgiving, and as always thanks for the advice!

As far as I know, all three have experience in everything from a mop-and-paint to new construction.If you're looking for data support in Snohomish County, I know @Doug M. has been doing a fair bit of work with analytics, might be something you'd want to look in to.As for me, I'm just a small time buy-hold rentals guy, but maybe we'll have a reason to talk business after I wrap up my current purchase, or just shoot the breeze at the next BP meet-up.Cheers, and welcome to the community!

Decide which level of risk you're willing to take (based on your cash position, your personality, your confidence in your analytic skills, and your life goals), then compare properties until you find one with a risk-adjusted return that's HIGHER than your alternative investment options.  

I have 10 years experience in Mortgage Analytics on the Origination side and the Servicing side along with SQL databases. 

Response rate is often misused as blanket term, really meaningless as far as non-vanity analytics is concerned, here is why; - Response rate is only relevant when derived from a specific segment or target.

Your advice is so narrow minded to full time or homebased investors I can't believe that I am the only one that ever sees this when they read your posts.I will never personally throw away a 15% COC return because it doesn't meet some ridiculous forced appreciation projection, or whatever other mathematically self-stroking overly analytical criticism can be thrown at it.