All Forum Posts by: Scott Costello

Hey BP Community,

I’m working on tracking down the contact info for a vacant property in Virginia and ran into a roadblock. Here’s what I’ve done so far:

• Pulled the owner’s name and mailing address from the local Taxes & Revenue site.
• Looked up the name/address on Whitepages.com, but no luck on a phone number.

I’ve got the owner’s updated address, but I’m striking out when it comes to finding a contact number to actually reach them.

Has anyone found a reliable method, software, or even a “hidden trick” for pulling phone numbers on homeowners in VA? Do you use skip tracing services, batch tools, or something local/county-specific that works better than the generic searches?

Any recommendations would be hugely appreciated—trying to connect directly without sending blind mailers if possible.

Thanks in advance!

@Rich Goldthwait  That's great! Will check it out and let you know how it goes. Thanks for putting that together. 

Hello BiggerPockets Community,​

Bureau of Labor Statistics

I'm focusing on a buy-and-hold strategy within a 50-mile radius of Winchester, VA. While utilizing BiggerPockets' "Picking a Market" worksheet, I've encountered challenges in gathering current and comprehensive data for smaller cities and towns in this area.​

Specifically, I'm looking to fill in metrics such as:​

Population Growth​

Median Household Income​

Wage/Income Growth​

Unemployment Rate​

Job Growth​

Homeownership Rate​

Median Age​

Median Sale Price (including YoY and 5-year price growth)​

Housing Inventory​

Median Rent (including YoY and 5-year rent growth)​

Rent-to-Income & Rent-to-Price Ratios​

I've attempted to source this information from platforms like the U.S. Census Bureau and FRED, but often find the data lacking or outdated for the smaller locales.​ Been Google searching but not sure how accurate that info is, as its different in every article. 

For those experienced in investing in smaller or rural markets around Winchester, VA:

What reliable data sources or tools do you utilize to obtain the above metrics?​

Are there local databases, regional reports, or other resources that provide more granular insights?​

How do you address data gaps when official sources don't provide the necessary information?​

Any guidance, recommended resources, or strategies would be greatly appreciated as I aim to make informed investment decisions in these areas.​

Thank you in advance for your assistance!

@Remington Lyman any suggestions on areas of either? Any specific tools you have used or use today?

Really looking forward to guidance for next steps. After discussing with my we have agreed on what we think is the correct buy box for us. Now what I see is the next step would be select the market. This is where I seem to struggle. Totally open to out of state investing. I currently live in Winchester, Va region (BP doesn't have that as an option in the drop down) but open to investing in WV, PA, MD, and Ohio. Reading the books and listening to the podcasts makes it seem easy to identify the market. Looking to learn from experienced investors on how they track each market once identified, along with selecting the primary markets to invest in.

Any and all help is greatly appreciated!!

Appreciate it@Bobby Feinman! Would love to connect next week if possible. 

Hey Mario,

Welcome to the BP family! Great to connect with another investor in Virginia. Im a newer investor focused on building a long-term buy-and-hold portfolio here in VA. Im always looking to meet like-minded people, learn from experienced investors, and explore potential partnerships.

If you come across any great deals that might fit a buy-and-hold strategy, Id love to connect and see if theres an opportunity to work together. Likewise, if you ever need a second set of eyes on a deal or just want to talk shop, Im happy to chat.

Looking forward to networking and growing in this space together!

Best,

Hey everyone,

I’m new to real estate investing and currently in the process of identifying the best markets to invest in. I know BiggerPockets has some solid templates for market analysis, but I’m looking for more specific insights into what data and tools experienced investors use to determine if a market is worth pursuing.

A little about my strategy:

• I’m looking for a good balance of appreciation and cash flow (not just one or the other).
• I currently have a full-time W2 job but plan to transition into full-time investing within the next 5 years.
• Open to out-of-state investing, but struggling with how to track and analyze different markets effectively.

What key statistics do you look at when evaluating a market? (e.g., job growth, population trends, rent-to-price ratios, etc.)
What websites, software, or tools do you use to collect and track this data?

I’d love to hear how you narrow down markets before diving into deeper property-level analysis. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

Hey everyone,

I’m a new real estate investor based in Virginia, looking to connect with wholesalers across the state. My focus is on building a long-term portfolio, and I’m interested in networking with wholesalers who have off-market deals or opportunities that align with my investment strategy.

If you’re actively finding and wholesaling properties in Virginia, I’d love to connect, learn more about your process, and explore potential ways we can work together in the future. Feel free to drop a comment or send me a message—I’m looking forward to building solid, win-win relationships!

Looking forward to connecting,
Scott

Appreciate it, Bobby. Would love to chat with a fellow VA guy. Really looking to understand our options for financing etc. Would love to chat sometime over the next few weeks if possible.

Looking forward to speaking with you. 

Best,