They are like apples and monkeys.

The cost structure really isn’t apples-to-apples with other real estate endeavors.That said, what I have heard with a lot of VR markets is that you get a lot of turnover at the 5-year mark.

To compare apples to apples, each deal should be evaluated independent of potential financing.  

If you wouldn't have your flip contractor work on your home, then your spreadsheet is useless for renovation anyway and you would just be comparing apples to oranges.

you need to compare apples to apples.. unless your looking at turn key inventory and then homes on the MLS  ( not Zillow or truila)  that is what you need to look at.most turn key homes by reputable companies will be extensively rehabbed .. were MLS homes from a homeowner that has lived there 20 years may have 20 year old mechanicals roof etc..

It is a great city for Investors as typically the buy-in is more conducive than other larger cities.Here in Pittsburgh new investments by Google, Apple, Facebook and Autodesk is a true testament to the growing infrastructure here.

My background is mostly focused on day trading/swing trading big and mis size companies such as amd, apple, Coca cola, CenturyLink, gw pharmaceuticals etc.

If I were doing it, I would grade a property in several areas, 0 to 4...(0 is best, 4 is worst)Assign a factor to each of them based upon the time commitment relative to the category, then multiple each score by the factor, add all the scores together, and now you have an objective number to allow you to compare apples to apples. neighborhood qualityschool qualitylikely tenant qualityage of propertyLikelihood of required maintenance distance from your house/office or the bulk of the other propertiesanything else you can think of

Hi @Jatika Manigault, thank God, or perhaps google and apple, there's no such thing as a "house you can't see" these days. 

To quickly sift and compare apples to apples, the minimum a property gross to purchase price ratio needs to be 1.67% in markets I underwrite in.So for a 500K house, gross rent would need to hit at least $5000x1.67%, or $8,333 gross.Generally I see STR expenses to be between 35-40% of gross if you have management in place, cleaning revenue, maintenance, utilities, etc.