Account Closed I'm too tired for a lengthy reply because I have already worked 14-hours today, but none of what you said makes any logical sense...you're saying you base your investing on the visual architecture of the location...

They finally came back with the following:“At this point we would just need you to apply for a “Special Inspection” at our office for visual “certification” of the existing structures.”I am curious what this sort of “visual certification” entails.

But you also obviously do understand that when you own an asset, it's always a wise idea to learn at least the basics about that asset.One of the most basic book about the basics of how houses work is called How Your House Works: A Visual Guide to Understanding and Maintaining Your Home by Charlie Wing.

Can anyone recommend a good data visualization tool for population, job growth, etc.?

At auction I do my homework (title search, comps, visual inspection of the property).

I doubt Community College will teach you anything you will ever use to make money in this business.If it did, the teachers would all be driving Rolls Royce's and living in multi-million dollar mansions--they are not.If you want to learn about SFH's (the bones and the guts of them) vs being a hammer swinger putting up framing (which you don't need to go to college to do)...study to be a home inspector at someplace like the InterNachi... https://www.nachi.org/become-home-inspector.htmOnce you earn the badges you will know your stuff about SFH inspections.But still that's a big commitment and it's not needed to make money in this business...you can hire Home Inspectors, just like you can hire tax pros, bookkeeping, and etc...If you want to learn how to "put in cabinets", "replace a toilet", "shingle a roof", add a dormer, etc...you can learn on YouTube fast and easy.If you want to learn how to frame, get a job 9 to 5 with a framing contractor, and get ready to WORK HARD.Here is a 582 page picture book of how to build a house: https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Visual-Guide-Building-House/dp/1600850227Sit down next to a Keurig Machine with a book like this and your favorite mug and learn at your own pace.  

I would also look under every sink and check for any leaks that you can see visually. 

It had become so corroded and consequently gummed up with sludge, that the diameter was no more than 3/4".So, the point of this story is to provide some visual insight into why galvanized pipes are a risk exposure.

Research shows that brain patterns activated when going through an activity (and completing a goal) are the same as those activated by visualizing the activity and goal.

You essentially lower your exit cap by improving the park from a visual and functional stand point.