Such as "in 2013 the average home in addition X was X/sq ft ; due to phase 4 being sold out the average has risen to X / per square foot.

Also, a new 7M sq.ft. office building at Bay 101 for 8,000 employees will break ground soon.  

You're challenge is to either find someone you can trust & build a relationship with to function as your boots on the ground, during acquisition and to find a PM you can trust.If you can build those relationships, you can invest anywhere and do it successfully.For a little insight on virtual REI, check out this podcast...http://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2013/09/05...

We can’t get any outside pics as we have a crap load of snow on the ground still.

In the meantime, I was gonna offer to be their "man on the ground" here in LA being that they're so far away.

Enjoy your learning phase, take it where ever your interests lead you.

It does seem though, many of these are in the pre-foreclosure phase.  

I'm an out of town buyer who relies on folks on the ground to scope out properties.Steven

I have a back ground in finance, accounting and taxes.

So contract has been signed we are in the appraisal phase.