I have been looking at different places to invest.I am looking for advice on the best tool to use to help with appreciation, job growth, etc that would help me.I have looked at a few tools, like zillow, trulia (to look at sold properties) but I was looking for more historical data on appreciation.Any advice would be appreciated!

For example, one of my homes in the past showed a Zillow estimate of ~$180k, which we thought was MUCH too high based on comps, so we listed the property at $149k to be more in line with comparables in the area, based on MLS data.

I was able to carefully choose my stays using the profiles and was able to meet and spend time with a priceless variety of people: people with cats, people with awkward teenagers or adorable tantrum-throwing urchins, people who lived in semi-restored historic ruins, bohemian weirdos with artsy communal lifestyles, widowed intellectuals with priceless antiques and hours to spare patiently correcting my grammar, people who forced me to eat and drink meals worth 3x what I was paying them, all of whom didn't speak (or agreed not to speak) a lick of Anglais. 

All these tools do is crunch data quickly for you.  

Given the data I would really look at 3 bedroom 2 baths in cedar park.

It seems to me unless someone is physically going there on a regular basis there's really know other way to get this data.

My number of data points is limited, though, since I've only worked with a few developers/flippers... and the note (which contains rate, payment terms, and other conditions) associated with the loan is not recorded, just the deed of trust.

I gathered this data from looking at rooms vs home rental prices on CL. 

Damn.Definitely get yourself some agent help so you can get good property data next time.

Simply put: Based upon research I have conducted using the Multiple Listing Service, the data does not support your claims.