In many areas over time warm belt states although initially having lower cash flow on average for turn key over time likely will throw off more rent growth and appreciation.

I recently did an evaluation on all properties that met my definition of bread and butter - listed for sale in RI and Southern MA for less than $400k in both MLS’s (ran a query and exported results for each) and was surprised to find that on average the cost per sq foot (list price compared to living space) on average was higher in RI than Mass.I am looking for fix and flips and am always looking for property with low sq dt to list price ratios.

Utilities are generally public and you can call them to get averages, taxes are public as well and can be pulled either from a assessor website or at their office, insurance companies can give you cash value and replacement value quotes by giving them an address, general rule for running calculations for vacancy is 5-10% of gross income, I have seen maintenance expenses all over the map (anywhere from $300-750 or a % of the rent - those vary depending on the number of doors in the deal as well as how much deferred maintenance has to be dealt with or how much rehab you are going to do to negate the deferred maintenance), contracted services, call a few landscapers and get quotes and use those for your analysis. 

Unless the property appreciates significantly beyond the average 2-3% which is a gamble something like this does not seem to be a great value.ThanksPesi

I am wondering what the average investor can typically expect for a return when they do their homework.

Either way you’ll probably meet great people in the industry and make friends with amazing agents who will help you in the future.

So $800 rent and price no more than 40k per door to get the 2% rule.So in general, you do get the 2% rule with a $750 rent wherever you can get a unit in tenantable condition for 37k.I would add that besides market value of the land, average cost of construction of new house is $150 per sqf and insurance puts replacement value at $70 per sqf.

Because the industry has been a bit overlooked, there isn't the same demand for mobile home parks as there is for apartment buildings.

I'm a Plant Manager at a sand and gravel mine working 65-80 hour weeks and have been in the industry since I was 17.

Hi BP Communtiy, as promised, I want to discuss how i fell into the real estate industry with my first family "deal"My grandparents have lived in Cambridge, MA (10 min walk to Harvard Sq) for 50+ years in a duplex.