I wrote down streets I'm interested in for a specific pocket of one town, made notes for the shoddy ones, and I'm looking up info for each house on the street using the town assessment website.

Damage is harder to assess unless you can do a thorough walk through.

Hi all,I'm a part-time attorney in the Puget Sound region; I've never bought a home and I have fairly comprehensive construction skills from years in carpentry.  

Here are some numbers for you all:Purchase price: 78,001Principal Balance: 72800.18 @ 4.25%- 30 yr Conventional loan through BBT; The home was a foreclosure, but purchased the home from HUD through an online auction, and paid 5% down for Conventional loan with PMI.Monthly payment: 628.16Home owners insurance: 1034.68 (Allstate- Estimated cost to rebuild is 166,851)Current Property Assessment from County: 97,100 for building and 26,900 for land: Total- 124,000Zestimate (if this means anything): 123,382Square footage: 2020 with 1526 containing HVAC (Electric) and a converted garage into a carpeted room with window AC, 2 old wall heaters, washer/dryer/water heater, outside door around 494 sq ft.

When you decide to invest (research real estate in a particular zip code), this should one of the first things (websites) you need to locate.You can find accurate tax information, sold information of neighboring homes, tax assessed values of homes, actually owners, ... etc. 

I'm friends with a family that moved here about 6mo ago from Calgary.While I wish I could help more on the school issue (I'm just out of college myself, no kids, and not originally from Houston) - I can still say I wouldn't depend solely on online rating systems because who knows what they're really grading the school on, how they get their ratings, or if the areas they assess heavily are where most of your concern lies.

As far as the 32 unit building, you have to assess the neighborhood and the volatility of values in that market.  

I have to say that the Propertyware demo seemed the most comprehensive, but that doesn't mean its the best. 

Looking to assess the risk with such transactions.

These costs have already resulted in PMs that serve smaller (less than 25 homes) HOAs to go out of business.The fees, business costs and government involvement would be more tolerable if the law accomplished its’ intended goal of consumer protection.However, the law is vague on the most simple demands and accountability for property managers: 1) there are no direct statements mandating PMs comply with all State laws and an HOA’s governing documents 2) no direct statements that require PMs to advise an HOA when they observe non-compliance with the law or to report to DORA when such advice has been ignored and violations continue3)no direct statements that hold PMs accountable when they carry out requested actions of a Board that are in non-compliance with the law or an HOAs governing documents 4) no mandates for PMs to provide home owners with a detailed explanation or legal justification of fees and assessments (such as the HOA Transfer Fee) they independently impose and retain and 5) no requirement to explain and justify in detail all PM fees in their contracts with the HOA.Repeated requests to DORA (Department of Regulatory Services) and legislators from Colorado’s largest HOA home owner’s group, Colorado HOA Forum, to include these simple specifics have been rejected making reform and enforcement for home owners very difficult.Legislators also refused to include in the Law assistance to smaller HOA PMs by reducing their licensing costs and requirements.Licensing also witnessed an unprecedented and disturbing legislative act.The Law contains language directly promoting a private entity’s (CAI) sales products and educational courses.It also allows the industry that is to be regulated (CAI) to develop and complete State educational, testing, and credentialing requirements none of which have been officially reviewed or approved by the State.Then there is the missing legislative mandate in licensing rules to address meaningful “full disclosure” of all fees and assessments on home owners by PMs.Specifically, the HOA Transfer Fee that cost HOA home owners millions each year will continue without any limits or justification.DORA decided a one-liner on home closing documents with no receipt and/or detail of charges is “full disclosure” of this fee.Legislation/licensing that is crafted by the interest group to be regulated should be disconcerting to home owners and businesses.The CAI has dominated the PM industry and HOA legislation in Colorado for decades.Their influence and leadership has led to the need for licensing and reform.July 1, 2015 was to be a good beginning on reforming the abuses in the PM industry but HOA home owners will sadly see little change.