I'm actually working on putting together a web-map/application to help me analyze property metrics and market trends.

Im moving closer in the direction of my first purchase for a multiplex...I have a decent amount of money able to be used as a down payment and have a reserve, I started an LLC last year, I continue to learn about real estate investing and study market trends in the area, I put together scenarios and run numbers using real homes that are listed on the MLS, but I continue "what if-ing" everything to death and then back out. 

If your first in on the neighborhood that can also be scary and unless you have deep enough pockets to start snapping up multiple houses to cause an upwards trend I would allow someone else to take the risk first.

Crime (your #5), Employment centers, unemployment levels, population trend, housing availability and affordability... all those are on my list.  

Here in Florida, it has been a trend for brokers/agents to get on all the wholesalers' buyers lists and then they just add anywhere from 3% to $10k on top of the deal and send out to their own clients, adding zero value to the deal.

Like some of the others have stated above we are in an upward trend and the newbies are coming out of the wood work and it's not just on BP.  

Rental demand is strong, and values have trended up since purchase in 2009 (moved in to a new home in 2012 and started renting).  

Of course I also see the trend of more and more people wanting to stay at home and just hire care to come to them.

Sure, there are some metropolitan areas where prices are higher....but the trend is younger folks want to live downtown, not in the suburbs.  

Savvy buyers understand that this trend could continue.