The predictions for my area for example are less then half of the two previous years.If you know you won't be holding the property long term, better sell this year.

By the way I read this part:"I predict you could purchase this home and sell it around $170,000 after completing $20,000 in repairs"Beware of that statement.

However Other that "forced appreciation" appreciation is difficult to predict and is a function of market cycles and inflation. 

If you are looking in a cookie cutter addition where every house is basically the same and all of the houses are within a few years of each other finding the market value is simple you just look at what identical properties have sold for over the past 12-24 months.Moving out of the predictable additions makes the process a little more difficult however if you are looking in areas where a majority of the the homes are being bought by owner occupants the process is still relatively simple.  

It's like the people who claim to predict the stock market.

Albert Einstein How would there be a real estate cycle if we didn't predictably move back and forth between fear and greed?

Check out this Thread on predicting the date of the 1,000,000th post

-If the housing market picks up at the rate its been going, maybe its wise to ride it out for another year.. zillow is predicting a 10% increase this year (I'm aware that's just a prediction)Thoughts?

I predict great success is your future.

Anyone that tells you they can predict them is either a liar, a fool, or both.