I'm not sure if it'll help you or not, but I started tracking rent statistics all of indiana recently, I don't have a huge amount of data yet, but it may help you in estimating average rents you may be able to get... www.rent-stats.com

As cliche as it sounds, I first became interested in investing primarily to find our next dream property and ultimately gain financial independence, wealth and early retirement just like countless others before me.

I am a Certified Financial Planner and President of a fully independent, fiduciary, investment management firm.I have been interested in real estate investing for many years and am always looking to expand my knowledge base. 

I have heard a lot of different  opinions from friends and family about real estate investing and what kind of properties to buy.Im interested in buying properties and keeping them for the long haul to gain financial independence.

I love statistics and based on numbers alone, there simply is no indication of a coming slowdown anytime soon.  

Would I be able to transact independently (for my own deals?

I am an investor and independent insurance agent in Raleigh.

Started in real estate in 2004,my goal for getting into real estate is to be financially independent and take care of my family.

You may want to also pull out statistics in project cancellation/project shutdown due among other things, State induced strict compliance to the letter, contractor's compliance and liability costs (biggest reason why significant California contractors are put out of business aside from tight competition), it's just next to impossible to earn contractor wages based on economic conditions (that being current prevailing economic depressed consumer wages cannot support re-construction costs or that wages to property modification ratios is not sustainable in long term basis), indicators, and indices (unit labor ratios, material integrity and application ratios, Local, State, and Federal (labor, occupational hazard, environmental) compliance costs, and certain and uncertain risk factors.

In a few years, the US will either give us independence or make us a state of the union.