I got some great quotes (an awesome photo as well), and two other BP members, Charles Perkins and Joshua Marks were able to share some fantastic tips and insight from a Tax and Legal perspective.Repeat home buyers fuel housing recovery - CBS NewsThis CBS News Marketwatch article takes an in-depth look at the recently released Joint BiggerPockets.com / Memphis Invest National Survey of Residential Real Estate InvestorsFinancing Handcuffs Real Estate Investors - The Niche ReportYet another industry publication that explores the data presented in the BiggerPockets.com / Memphis Invest study.Check out the articles above and all the other great recent press we've gotten and please do share these.

If you have to spend hours a week looking at raw data, I don't think that is going to be the best use of your time.

Click the Summary Data button.

Given that you mentioned retirement, I'm going to expand upon that and assume you're looking to fund your retirement through passive cash flow, i.e. you don't need to sell.When you take those two things into account, you remove a PRO from Single Families (appreciation) and a CONs from Multi Families (selling audience & appreciation).You're basically left with the assumption that a tenant will take better care of and stay longer in a house versus the assumption of a bit more management intensive, with higher turnover, and the reality of higher cash flow in a multi family.Seems like a no brainer to me.I would like to see some data on 2 and 3 bedroom multi families versus single families in terms of how long people stay.

If you've entered the data, you'll see the information on your profile.

I use Kroll Factual Data.

In addition to a list of prospects to call on you also need a list of pre-specified data that you intend to collect from each prospect and a pre-written script to keep the conversation smooth, timely, and outcome focused.No matter who you are calling on, it is almost always a good idea when marketing by telephone to introduce yourself first.

wheatie, I was under the impression that there are software out there that tapes into MLS and other data bases and gives you a quick down and dirty estimation of the value of the property that you are looking for.

Don't apologize...just provide some data to support your opinions...You said at the beginning of this that it is ILLEGAL to wholesale REO properties...and multiple people have asked you to provide the specific statute that prohibits this activity.After much back and forth, you then went on to admit that it is -- in fact -- not illegal (despite your original contention), but violates REO contracts.Now you are being argumentative about other points that are completely unrelated.It's that anyone here isn't appreciative of your opinion...it's just that bad information is worse than no information, and people here have livelihoods that depend on this info, so getting accurate information is essential.I'll point out one more time that, as a lawyer, if you believe something is illegal, you should be able to provide a statute that supports that claim.

Scott Scheel mentions that for bigger properties it is tough to get a good deal in markets that are already showing good indications of future growth (either already in the process of growing, or showing the "obvious" increases in population/job growth) He says the best deals are frequently found in weak or even declining markets where you have much better leverage with sellers.This is a risky proposition because real estate trends seem to last quite a while, but if timed correctly an investor can do much better than average by getting in early before the rest of the herd does.Do you guys have any ideas of how to anticipate a potential turnaround area before the census data refects it (IMO this data is a beacon to RE investors) I have a couple ideas I think may be worth looking into:-Projected inflow of large, new employer-New transportation artery-Unaccounted change (in census data) of demographics (undesirables moving out, nicer crowd moving in)-Perhaps a well structured conversation with someone at the economic planning department to find out how close to fruition some upcoming changes are taking place.