Here is a list of a few that I find to be of most value:Population TotalHome ValuesHousehold IncomesPoverty RatePopulation AgeRental Vacancy Rate*Homeowner Vacancy Rate*Educational Attainment Rate (High School/GED & Bachelors)Number of Housing UnitRent to Income Ratio*Rent to Price Ratio*Population on SNAPS (supplemental nutrition assistance program) percentageProperty Tax Rate*Median Age of BuildingsNumber of Structures by Units (SFR, Duplex, Triplex, Quadplex, etc...)Median Rents by Number of BedroomsPopulation Change (Births, Deaths, In-Migrations, Immigrants)*note that some of the metrics are composites that are computed by comparing two or more variables from the ACSA number of the variables above can also be broken up into cohorts, which will give you even more insight into how an area is doing.

I plan on investing to supplement my income.

I added the potatoes, carrots, onions, garlic, seasoning and wine all at once.

The best I could come up with, given our situation, was buying 10-15 rentals using debt (about halfway to goal), then selling half at a future date, pay off most of the other ones with the profit, and be mortgage free with rental income supplementing retirement, so I understand the basic idea of eventually having no debt, just not sure how someone who can't just pay cash when a good deal presents itself would build up a real estate portfolio without any debt involved.

They are definitely not a waste of time IMO.Having said that, I have found Realtor.com to be the most useful with zillow being supplemental and I rarely look at Trulia.

I want to develop a consistent RE wholesaling business to supplement my retirement.

This question is for those of you that do this as a living, and as a supplemental income.

Steve's Wholesaling for Quick Cash 2.0 was a really good course and the audio CD's and DVD were a great supplement.

This type of sale allows them to get a lumpsum - perhaps to do all the trips on their bucket list - and then supplement their pensions which they may have started to receive 20 years or more ago and are no longer adequate for today's costs.Basically the purchase consists of two parts: a "bouquet" or an upfront lumpsum that may be anywhere from 15% to maybe 50% of the property value and a monthly or annual payment (called a rent) that continues until the owner dies.

My guess is you have not actually sat down and done the real math required or anticipated the headaches of being a landlord/investor.Assuming you are a hobby investor, you have surplus income to supplement your investment income monthly and you do not mind contributing cash monthly resulting in lowering your actual end profit who cares.It is a combination of investing and forced savings.