Is that too simplistic?

John Price here:[LINK REMOVED] You may also benefit from reading this article to learn more about how cap rates apply to single-family residences: www.johntreed.com/positive That should demonstrate that cap rates apply to all investments...although a more simplistic modeling of returns generally works fine for single family investments as others have pointed out.

Tax liens appear to be simplistic from the surface but are very risky for beginners. 

All things are rarely equal, though, and that is a very simplistic answer to a very complex question that has a lot to do with you, your situation, the deal, etc, etc.

I have tried the interface and it's functional; simplistic (read: easy to use), not a lot of bells nor whistles which is good if you're trying to bring up the grading curve in certain areas where cash/money orders/ mail payments are still the primary methods.

Simplistically, the model is develop, build, rent, sell - with the formula being:Sale value - costs = profits (if you are long term hold then: cash flow / equity = return on costs)So often we see folks get in love with their projects, then start to lose site of the "gut check", keep gut checking at every level, every step if you can, keep your model/proforma open, and update each time you get a new data point on rent, costs, etc.Ann and Weston have the advantage of having done it before, so they likely have some general sense of sale values when a small apartment project is complete, and Ann for sure has the costs dialed in.

Obviously every situation is different, but if your question was pretty simplistic (ex "Hey, if i sell X property for $XXX, what's my gain?")

I actually found a good one that is a little more simplistic.

I find on forum posts that when one is asked repeatedly to defend their overly-simplistic statements and they fail to do so and/or blame people for attacking the messenger it is generally because they realize they’re wrong.

It seems to me that those in this thread who are convinced hyperinflation is coming (without any concrete evidence) are the Economics equivalent of those Profit = Rent - PITI folks...they read a Wikipedia article or two and think that the field of Economics boils down to a few simplistic binary scenarios...And just like with the Profit = Rent - PITI folks, we can do our best to try to point out that things are more complicated, but in the end, it's up to them whether they want to really dig in and learn or whether they're happy to delude themselves and fail.In the end, if they really want to believe Profit = Rent - PITI, I'm afraid we must let them...