I always say 'people before market' because you can have an amazing investment prop in a hot market that turns into a giant money pit if the people you trust to rehab, manage etc drop the ball. 

This was a SFH (tear down) listed as "potential rehab" in a hot market Houston neighborhood.

On Zillow, specifically, it tells you how hot or cold the neighborhood is and their estimate of much that neighborhood will appreciate in the coming years.

If they keep monthly dues arbitrarily low and not building reserves it usually signals that the HOA is going to special assess every needed repair to common area i.e. siding, roofs, paint etc.Also determine whether they pay water as that can get extremely expensive if hot water is included as many HOA's in large buildings. 

Note to America's builders: less-expensive homes are starting to move. Purchases of new homes climbed 7.8 percent from the previous month to a seasonally adjusted 539,000 annualized pace in February, a seven-year high...

If it is just standard water heaters and hvac those aren't even that big.My suggestion.Network better with people and negotiate like a boss to get better deals on the installation of HVAC and hot water tanks.

homes are now covered in tarpolines.. can't sell or refi since there is les pendence.. values plummet over 50% and this is in Uber hot Portland downtown area...

Welcome to the white-hot Puget Sound market.For conventional lending needs, I recommend John Nguyen, with Procura Mortgage.

I know just about every Street in the City and the investing hot spots.

In our recent purchase we knew the multifamily industry was hot and competition was high.