Meanwhile flipped homes were still purchased at an average discount of 13 percent below market value in 2013, the same average discount as 2012, indicating that investors are finding discounted buying opportunities outside of the public foreclosure process — particularly in those markets with the biggest increases in flipping for the year.”Major metro areas with big increases in home flipping in 2013 compared to 2012 included Virginia Beach (up 141 percent), Jacksonville, Fla., (up 92 percent), Baltimore, Md.

The result is the taxpayer may end up paying a tax rate that is comparable to the state with the highest tax rate.When you consider the 50 states in the U.S., there are 43 that impose a state income tax.

If you think about it, the cost to bump out a wall on a 40x50 house to 45x50 when building is only a small increment.Further, you have to compare floor by floor.

Now this is all comparing a one bedroom multi to larger numbers of bedrooms in a single family.

You can deduct the expense, yes, but that is hardly, IMO, a "phenomenal advantage" as mentioned above ;) at least if you compare it to having an employer cover half of the expense or more.I have never had a job with benefits, and health insurance remains my single largest monthly expenditure.

If you think they're expensive, compare the price to a single course at a university or any sort of computer certification course.Jon

An appraiser looks in the MLS and public records and finds a few comparable properties.

The comparable sales I also found are in that general area too.

I personally like ROI over comparing cap rates because ROI factors my financing into the equation, and my financing options might be different on different properties.

* How does the stock market compare to real estate?