It seems that, in both these cases, the systems are designed around locating properties and finding investors, using third-party resources.

That was my first thought as well, but then I realized that there is principal pay-down that needs to be factored in; I don't have a calculator handy, but I'm guessing it's somewhere between 4-5%.Still crazy cheap, though!

My question has to do with how much more you can realistically get for a house with "wow" factor.

Factoring in a 30-year mortgage, $1,200 in annual home insurance, closing costs of $5,500 and maintenance costs of $100 a month, along with property taxes, he calculated that it would take a selling price, 10 years later, of $395,404 just to break even.

I have not raised rents in the 2 1/2 years I've owned it but have reduced the vacancy factor to near zero.

You don;t have to itemize every cost, just use 50% of the gross rents as your cost factors and you are done!

Interest rates have some effect or influence, but there are a number of other factors (unemployment, economic outlook, population growth, household creation/consolidation, consumer confidence, tax codes, etc.) that are more powerful in determining housing prices.

I realize that the economy and other factors may make it difficult to make this happen for some people, but look at it this way: All things in life that are difficult are the things worth going after.

There are architectural design wikis, seems it would work with realty synonymously.

I've found a site that does pretty great work, but the bottom line is that I'd love some cool designs before we go and create some gear.Anyone have the art skills to help with some cool designs?