While I buy for cash flow and not appreciation I'll consider taking a haircut on my cash flow (1% rule) if I can find something in the right area where older ranch homes are being bulldozed for $1M homes.I agree with all of the rules of thumb as a starting point, just make adjustments (up or down) as you get additional information.

@Rebecca Knox It seems like most of the seasoned investors that have replied on this post agree with you.

If you go to some local meetups in your area, you can start building relationships to assist a seasoned investor, learn from them, and then benefit over the long-term.

I pay between $20-60 per month, depending on the season.

While a cash-out refinance may have seasoning periods, some home equity lines of credit do not and are usually (not in all cases) available for down-payment capital just like cash. 

New listings have continued to hit the market, bucking seasonality trends commonly seen in the fall, a time when listing and sales activity typically slows as children return to school.

Some seasoned investors think in absolute terms rather than relative terms.

Turnover depends on the season.

I've had better luck shopping off-season like now in the north. 

At this rate, we are not making any money on the property especially since we purchased it in late August (start of the slow season).