conventional financing is all risk based and when the risk increases, such as an investor loan, the rate fee's and down payment all go up. 20-25% down is goin to be the minimum with conventional investor financing if you go with non-conventional (hard or bridge money) financing then rates go up dramatically but you can preserve your cash outlay.

While some really smart guy created a program to evaluate these homes, most sites like Zillow dramatically miss on values, neighborhood evaluation and schools.I agree with @Michael Hayworth in that home owners will see what Open Door will pay and then will shop what others will pay.  

In a single stroke, thefts dropped dramatically, but it was still being shipped out of state to neighboring counties, who eventually updated their laws.Since then (3 years ago) I don't know of a single outside unit taken.

The beauty about making additional principal payments is that you dramatically reduce the time and the total amount of interest.

So inflation adjusted 'raw' appreciation is only part of the equation... add leverage on well selected income property and returns on investment can be improved dramatically

It's likely not going to increase dramatically in value, attract quality tenants, be a stable, low-maintenance asset, or provide any of the real, scalable benefits of real estate investing to your life.Personally, I choose to buy assets that produce reasonable, but not incredible cash flow, but have plenty of potential for appreciation.

Is there such a dramatic difference in owner occupying/ non-owner occupying where you live?

One thing I have noticed is the competition is dramatically increasing.

People had been foreclosed upon, and that loan that was foreclosed was a crappy ARM product where the payments jumped dramatically (as will happen with ARMs).

Most of the shows like flip this house have dramatized story lines so that people watch them!