The future is not predictable.  

The market is gonna go up and down over time and there isn't much you can do to predict anything other than long term trends.

Is this reliable and predictable and efficient?

The houses are cookie-cutter so I already have a pretty good feel for how to renovate one and what it might cost.The property values should be pretty predictable.

Enzennio, If you do some reading, you'll see Mike owns quite a number of rental properties.Any number you put in a spreadsheet for appreciation is nothing but a guess.Pretty hard to predict operating costs when a lot of the biggies are very unpredictable.

Some great deals here.Also, feel free to check out a blog I wrote for BP about what something similar Joe mentioned above.http://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2014/06/21/predictions-futile-invest-real-estate-based-numbers-alone/Thanks and have a great day.

Most financial advisers are predicting that the gains rate will in fact go to 20% and is not likely to be affected by any tax legislation.The seller may have other reasons for claiming the income in 2010 as well that are totally separate from the RE.

There are simply too many variables when working with people and business to predict what will happen.Having a Business Mind SetInstead, you are in control of your actions.

Arnie,  What you are proposing is called "predictive maintenance". 

I don't believe that I'm smart enough to predict a real estate downturn or upturn, not even in my own market of Denver, CO, much less the rest of the U.S.