@Matt Littlepage realtors tend to be less than optimal avenues to find good deals… Although I have found a few here and there, search for ones that are explicitly “investor friendly“, or even here on bigger pockets forums!

Based on hard assets, real estate tends to weather the ups and downs long term better than other investment tools, such as stocks or bonds. 2.

I've been told to look at trends such as the City's GDP (Gross Domestic Product), MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area), and HAI (Housing Affordability Index).My question is where do you all tend to look for these metrics and are there any other key market indicators that you prefer to take into account? 

They tend to take better care of them and I don't have to play Maytag man. 

Engineering firms are fly by night type of companies and they tend to know their market.

@Will Barnard - You left out the part about getting the previous inhabitants to move out of the property ;-)I share the view that private lenders are to be made whole even if it would mean selling a property outside of the troubled deal to make them whole.We also tend to put the capital of our equity partners before our own.  

Along with the above, I tend to think of development as what happens before construction starts...

Those with good school districts tend to attract higher rent premiums, offer better appreciation potential, and lower risk as they are the last to decline during bad economic times.  

They tend to be pricey especially if your doing the whole house

We have all heard Josh Dorkin explain that one should set attainable goals, however I tend to lean towards Grant Cardone's method and shoot for the moon...