The city of Chicago has a color-coded building permit dashboard that covers all 77 communities.

I decided on getting an owner-occupy loan in order to have less skin in the game.

That being said you can find out what's hot by studying the market and what the new home builders are doing and the types of materials, colors and finishes they are using.

@Mike Smith, I will add some color outside of the direct questions, and answers which cover them well.Communication is key, particularly in a down market. 

I've had more than one tenant remark that they're glad there's no carpet, it's easier to clean and they can throw down an area rug for color and softness if they want.

Anything under 7 years left is very hard to finance as lenders do not see mortgage being paid down enough to be less than dark value if the tenant does not renew.Even if absolute NNN you have to see how old roof and parking lot is with cost reserve stable report while in due diligence.

@Nicholas ZakasYou could be a private lender or also invest in mortgage notes For private lending you will want a good attorney to draft the loan documents, you will want a good title company as well.Biggest risk factors in private lending are who you are lending too (get references and run background checks on them) and what are they buying and will it have valueAlso make sure they have skin in the game.Other options are to invest in syndications which you will still want to do due diligence on who you invest in it is most passive strategyThere are syndications in all aspects of real estate as well

They don't have any skin in the game anymore.

On a couple deals I brought partners in out of necessity (financially) and on a couple I brought in friends (no financial necessity) with the hope I could have someone with "skin in the game" who could be relied on to manage while I'm traveling.

@vinh tranNot sure if we are allowed to post links here but go check out a site called rich blocks poor blocks (.com) and you will see a cool color-coded interative map.