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.

The other houses on the street don't go in a predictable sequence.

Unfortunately, they are overpriced and will probably not sell resulting in the owners renting them again.I have owned the house for 7 years.It's hard to predict mother nature, but this area seems to get hit by a major tornado every 10-15 years.

My concern with this is it is hard to predict future value of property and I don't want to invest based on an assumption of appreciation.