I am trying to figure out a method to identify the best place (Metropolitan Area) in the US to find a "buy and hold" property.A common method is to identify several parameters, score each of them.I identified the following parameters:Unemployment in August 2012 (from city-data.com)Unemployment trend (from city-data.com)Zillow Home index valueZillow Rent indexProperty managers accredited by BBBCan you recommend a different method?

Redoing all the plumbing to accomodate new shape and adding washer and dryer upstairs.

The first, not a lead in any shape or form, but the second call was much more interesting, though only promising at best.I am looking at the property tomorrow, although I suspect, based mostly on instinct, that this will not be a deal.It's definitely nice to see the knowledge I have gathered here at Bigger Pockets, and elsewhere, turn into being one step closer to my goal.

The house is in rough shape and needs a ton of work however my budget is $70k on it and my GC came in at $85k.

Here is the info:It's a 4 plex that is in very bad shape.

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I know what i need to research, Market Trends, Appreciation/Decreciation Values, Vacancy Rates, Debt Service, GRM, RoR, Cap Rates, and all that other good stuff, but im puzzeled in how one goes about finding these figures in the real world.

They're little flying saucer shaped robots that clean his floors.

If they are giving you a cost to fix the problem in their listings, then it is probably in bad shape & must be removed.

Always paid rent on the first of the month and keep my apartment in immaculate shape.