But these should get you started and there are plenty of good sites to do your research, like data use, city-data, area vibes, neighborhood scout.Please, feel free to shoot me a message if you have any questions or just want to chat!

Sometimes HELOC appraisals aren't to the detail that some loans require.Keep in mind the point of the appraisal in this case isn't to put a market value on your house as much as to ensure the bank's protected if you default.

Meantime ensure that you do not look like a risk on paper. 

MLS access and control of information is a contentious issue for agents and consumers, Zillow and the like are dominating the market with this data making it harder for agents in the ensuing years, heck harder for everyone.Better question to ask is what information are you looking for?

Typically speaking, a triplex or 4plex will show a better return in this area and you will carry less risk through ownership of a 3-4plex because you can better coordinate lease structure to ensure timing works in your favor.

Ensuring you can build a board on the property is a tedious job that I suggest you don't neglect. 

And zillow's has incorrect data for beds/baths and sq ft.

I explained what my resolution was in order to ensure all of the sellers concessions are used.

Though I don't have any hard data, I think it would be fair to speculate that a very large portion of the BP community has very grandiose ideas that will lead them to financial freedom (which can mean something different for everybody) and even though there is a wealth of resources available not only here but across the web that can make different investing strategies easy to digest in a paint-by-numbers format, the truth is that it's an incredible grind day in and day out.Even those that have achieved "financial freedom" (or at least those we perceive to have) are still at it everyday, preserving and building upon their accomplishments. 

Long-term, buy & hold is a great strategy - I've always been a firm believer that you have the upper hand with these properties in the investment field because you have the advantage of being first in an area then being able to wait for appreciation for whenever you want to sell "when the time is right".Often times, these rental properties also don't involve the full scale upgrades (less money out-right) that you would need in a traditional fix-&-flip in order to hit projected ARV's.The one draw-back here is out-sourcing your rentals to a property management company - which finding the right one for the right price can take some time to vet - or else managing the property yourself, in which case you will need to start building relationships with contractors to ensure proper repairs are being done and the needs of your tenants are being met.You can do buy & holds out of state easily, too, just find the right market that is land-lord friendly (for example, mid-west: Indiana), and I think its fair to say you could do well long-term with the right properties!