The national searches like the one that smartmove offers is great because it covers the entire US.

I know this June 13th they have a national speaker there that sounds pretty interesting.The first meeting is free so it doesn't hurt at all to check it out and form your own opinion but I think it is a great group in my limited experience with them.

Natasha - I'm out of your area but this comes to mind: The National Association of Home Inspectors.http://www.nahi.org/.

My draw to the former is based on the belief that interest rates and property prices will increase over the next 5 years.Also, i want to highlight that we would have a safety net in place.

Frequently these associations are affiliated with your state's apartment association and the National Apartment Association.

But maybe when people ask for advice on places that look good on the national scene you should just say that you don't know!

every market is different. the national news takes the numbers as a whole.

The term for a nation that ends up with all its assets owned by a foreign power is "colony".Anyone who hasn't already read; "The World is Flat" (Thomas Friedman), "American Theocracy" (Kevin Phillips) should do so.

Do any have national databases that would compete with what you have in mind?

Try the National Real Estate Insurance Group or REI.