I just found the site OnBoard Navigator that provides a variety of market analysis including housing, crime, and school information. 

My goal--- build enough rental properties to exit the rat race.I've thought long and hard about how to dive in but find myself stuck in analysis paralysis.

The most important thing is that the idea you pitched is backed-up with enough analysis and effort and you have a clear plan in mind.

Eventhough they will charge you they are usually worth every penny.Always remember to do a math analysis and try to look at the subject prospective properties before you make an offer or at least have a clause in the sales contract that allows you the time (usually 10 to 15 days) to make a detailed inspection and possibly back out of the deal without a penalty that hurts you too bad.  

This will squeeze the rental margins because the renters won't be able to afford more rent regardless of the cost of the rental SFR.So if my above analysis is correct - rental SFR inventory will be harder to acquire, rents will stagnate, SFR values will rise and cash flow margins will narrow.The moral of this analysis being that if you have a good "flipped" SFR, with low expected CapEx, that has a ARV less than $150K, that will rent for $1250/mn or more, in a suburban area that shows good appreciation potential ....

Currently working on getting offer approved by bank. This is a short sale home located in Malibu, CA. The seller is in default. The price i offered is $1,250,000 the property was in escrow last year for $1,550,000 but...

as was mentioned, hardest thing about sac... for me, is the very small analysis needed for neighborhoods.   

She does the market and real estate piece and I do the analysis and networking using various goals we have set in order to decide on worthiness of deals.We are focusing on Single Prop. and Multi-Family.  

I study economics and am well-versed on BLS and ACS researching that I hope will translate well as I get more active in the world of REI, generally, and market analysis, specifically.

I find myself experiencing analysis/paralysis since analytics is very conducive to my personality.