The cash method is easier to keep track of, however the accrual method is more accurate.

Google street view will not always give you an accurate idea of the neighborhood. 

I'm not clear where these numbers came from but the Philadelphia numbers  can not possibly be an accurate representation of the market.

How often are the sale prices accurate?

There are plenty of deals.That is a super basic but fairly accurate description of how I process a tape.

I guess if you could gather some info from somewhere so you KNEW that the first was being worked out then it would be well worth your while but otherwise, it seems like a huge gamble.

You will have to price your homes accurately but that should be no problem as canc and expired listings are ready for the price drop.  

Jared is correct that the tenant will pay for anything that is separately metered. ...Rather than stating "will pay" in the above quote, it's probably more accurate to word it as "will be obligated to pay" ;) Tenants sometimes choose not to pay utilities even when that is their obligation under the lease.  

IMHO, picking stocks is gambling.

If you go this route, I'd definitely recommend hiring a CPA to make sure your initial bookkeeping structure accurately reflects both your operational and tax situations.