Zillow's algorithms don't take into account whether or not it's occupied - it just uses public data for square footage, tax history, etc.

Data is published by HUD and Shiller as well as a bunch of reits that have armies of wall street analysts that track down this data for there own use.

Lenders are just like insurance companies and they base metrics and requirements off of data and things they have learned from in failed ventures (loans) from the past.

As well as City Data info on the area.

When I start crunching the numbers I am not sure what data is reliable.

Originally posted by Tom Cullen: Recently quack man-made global warming pseudo-scientists were exposed purging and fudging data on TMWP in an attempt to explain it away.

We'll see what we can do about that.3 - We did eliminate the stats data from the side of the forums.

Picking a stock actually requires you to analyze an enormous amount of data and vastly increases your knowledge of the global economy.

As far as flipping strategies buy right and then also price correctly when you sell.As a real estate broker new product doesn't come on the market every 30 days it comes on the market every week and sometimes daily.Knowing that what buyers want is the best product at the most reasonable price.They don't want a crap hole to live in just because it is cheap.So when rehabbing if your budget is stretched pick 2 or 3 things that will pop and catch the buyers eye that say QUALITY.Also in this market a price drop every 30 days won't cut it.As a broker we know from statistical data that 85 percent of activity occurs in the first 10-14 days on the market.If recent sold prices range from 40k to 50k I want to be in the bottom 50% of list price 40k to 44k with a great product.If I have given it maximum exposure and nothing comes in drop the price every 7 days until it sells.You want to always stay ahead of the pricing curve and chasing the market down.It is the number one mistake made by all sellers.

Sorry, that was uncalled for :wink: You don't have enough data to disprove any method or any amount of risk.