For the first one there is a ton of data available on markets through the BP website that you may want to jump into and analyze.For the second one, $300 would be considered great to one person and a waste of time to others.

There won't be a test or screening to determine your qualifications.

Originally posted by @Bob Daniels:*Disclaimer*  My account has only been open for 3 months, which isn't nearly long enough to draw a solid conclusion from.I recently invested 1k with them in their long term growth fund as a test run to see how accurate their claims were. 

Data/lists you pull matter.

If not, even though you are a re pro, losses are passive & deductions are limited.There are 7 scenarios that will qualify as material, and you only need to meet one:*500 hours*Substantially all participation*> 100 hrs and at least 1/2*Significant participation*5/10 years*Personal service activity w participation in last 3 years*Continuous participationTo materially participate, you must be involved in the operations of the activity on a regular, continuous, and substantial basis.Once you pass the pro test, the material participation often comes along for the ride.You can elect to aggregate all rental real estate for purposes of measuring material participation under Sec. 1.469-9(g).Your time spent on all your rental properties (STRs don't qualify) counts as one activity, making it easier to materially participate.In order to make a strong case with your CPA and the IRS you need to document your hours.Best practice is an hours log where you are as specific as possible.

That's according to The Business Journals' inaugural hottest housing markets ranking, which is based on third-quarter listing and sales data from Intercontinental Exchange Inc. 

The biggest ways IMO are MLS data, multiple solutions for sellers (off market cash deal or listing), ability to rep. yourself on your own deals (saving on commission).Commission savings adds up fast when you're doing multiple deals a year.That being said, there is cost to having a license so if you're only doing a couple deals a year then it might not make as much sense.

My rent data is also based on CoStar and other social media outlets' marketplaces.

@Brett Jurgens if data is non-partisan, yes, it could be helpful if one can access it and knows how to interpret it.

You fail that test as well.