Looking for help predicting expenses (like maint/cap, insurance, cleaning, management, etc.) and revenue (I've computed my own rental season curve, but I'd love someone to validate that for me).What I'm looking at is an MLS duplex that *I think* would rent for a total of $4300/wk at peak, at a least price of $519K.Thanks,Chaz

If you can say with confidence that the Zestimate is usually within 10% of reality in your market, or is consistently 20% high (or whatever), then it can be a useful rough screening tool for a quick desktop analysis. 

Trulia, Zillow, Realtor.com, etc. all have algorithms computing *different* values that can't possible take into account interior fit and finish. 

Setting up a home office with a computer, cell phone, etc isn't much.

My main interest in this forum as I slowly transition from cubicle dweller to independent investor is to build up my network and contacts and perhaps eventually find the next opportunity.Other than RE I'm a computer nerd for my day job, other interests include building electric vehicles, electric vehicle advocacy, bicycling, outdoorsy stuff, and vintage land rovers.  

Hi there BP,A RE newbie here, but dying to leave my computer-staring corporate job for that cash-flow-propelled passive income life of travel and freedom we're all dreaming of. 

They have free accounts but my business account gives me unlimited storage and it keeps copies on all my local computers and on the cloud.

I would like to walk you through my analysis to see if I am doing something wrong with my numbers.Property: Duplex in San Rafael ST, South of Edgecliff Village in Fort WorthAsking Price: $155,000Down Payment (3.5% via FHA): 5,425Loan Amount: 149,575Loan Period: 30 yrInterest Rate: 4.38%Monthly Mortgage Payment (using BP mortgage calculator): 747.24Income:Unit A --> 695Unit B --> 89550% Rule:Cash flow = (Income)*50% - (Monthly Mortgage Payment) Cash flow = (895) *50% - 747.24 = -299.74** This computation was made only leasing unit B and living in unit A (house hack).A few thoughts regarding this analysis:1.The schools surrounding the area are below average schools (according to greatschools.org).2.I am not including the monthly taxes, nor the monthly insurance in my analysis (I have not searched for this information.

Most have some kind of public access computer once inside.

On top of that there is a large overhead of tools, insurance, phones, computers, employee benefits, vehicles, tools, office space etc...On the other hand we have someone who is simply purchasing a property & paying above company to operate it for them.