Whether you choose deep value add properties or Class A deals, always assess the value and potential returns.

@Nick Mittler As you assess what resources you currently have, being local to an affordable market (which people from everywhere else invest in), is an asset.

Your best approach is to show that the assessment isn’t supported by market data.

Local property management – Before buying any rental, you want property management in place who can assess rental accuracy, tenant history, turnover risk, and local rental demand.  

I would look at the number of indirect fire attacks on the base from the previous months and give my assessment on where we might need to bolster our defenses.I'm grateful to have this skill set as it has helped me make smart adjustments when the market hasn't been as strong.

But all told, a lot of this assessment is fairly subjective. 

We start by assessing their core functionality for STRs: dynamic pricing engine capabilities, direct booking integration quality, and channel management reliability (no double bookings).

I mainly do not want to waste my agents and contractors time (and my money) in assessing properties that have have major red flags.

Some day that will teach you a lesson in "special assessments." and often that means you will hate life itself when that happens. 

I am just starting out (we own another duplex we bought the November before and that's been super smooth even with rent raises) and did not know that you could go to the city assessor and get the actual numbers for taxes (which it turns out were much lower than the bank's assessments...which was good for us!