Visit Zillow.com (my favorite) and find out what type of property is selling most and for how much.

Forecasting results with large components of systemic risk is gambling at best.

The caveat is to make sure you know how to find good people to do the other parts.Very few people are good at everything needed for big projects and investments.My favorite example is where would Ford Corporation be if Henry Ford felt he had to do everything himself in his car company?

Clearly the tenants are all talking to each other and their favorite subject is "Screw the Landlord 101".Clean the units up as each move out and put some lipstick on the curb appeal to attract a new round of tenants who all come in under the new rules/new lease.

Any other scenario is pure gambling from my perspective.

It's my favorite book for landlording for single family houses.

It is sometimes a gamble too because when your pursuing these kinds of units, it is likely the owner is not paying their mortgage.

Andy Bankston haha, the only gambling I do is within the markets.

MS is hoping the pro release will save the day, but not sure I'd be willing to gamble my money on it.

As for your apps I actually wrote a blog post about some of my favorite Apple appshttp://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2012/10/18/boost-real-estate-productivity-iphone-applications/Also, there was a running thread that mentioned some great Apps:https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/56/topics/68351-just-got-an-iphone-app-recommendationsAgain, welcome to BP.