But many of those companies (Corelogic, Black Knight) get their data from error-prone sources as well.Data in the real estate world is poorly digitalized and structured, despite the best efforts of programs like RESO. 

My husband and I are rookie landlords in the Alexandria, VA area trying to navigate the mid-term rental market.

To make broad generalizations or assumptions about entire quadrants of the city being "problem areas" is an error in judgement, in my opinion.Now, there are areas on the west side that I definitely try to avoid, but if I have to go there, I make sure to do it in the morning hours when most of the delinquents are sleeping. 

I am a rookie investor and I am under contract to purchase my first investment property.

That having been said, I want to avoid any rookie mistakes.

https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/517/topics/693204-fix-and-flip-and-low-doc-rental-loansEdited to add: I just tried to comment on the thread they posted 2 days ago and got an error message that I'm can not post a reply....... hmmmmm, perhaps they don't want the truth to come out.Mark 

It's just hard when there is no margin for error.

For example we paid for designer that made multiple errors including one that we caught too late and pushed the schedule (but designer picked up the cost impact but not the schedule impact).  

You don't have much margin for error if the estimates are off.I would not want in on this deal unless this was a super unique property that has room to improve the numbers.

I'm new to this forum and a "rookie" real estate investor.