Ideally, you want several employers to spread the risk associated with a dominant industrySupply and DemandCensus.gov under the “Selected Housing Characteristics” tableDetermine by analyzing the five-year rental vacancy rates and median rental rates in the market, as well as the year-on-year change in the number of building permits created for commercial properties (five or more units)The number of five or more unit building permits won’t tell us much on it’s own.However, a huge red flag to you would be when you see an increase in the number of permits in combination with an increasing vacancy rate and/or a decrease in median rentsAs vacancy increases, median rent and new building permits should decrease… and vice versaBest Case:Low or decreasing vacancy rates and increasing median rentsDecent Case:High vacancy rate that is decreasing Stagnant vacancy rateWorst Case:Increasing vacancy rate and/or decreasing median rent An increase in the number of building permits (5+ units) in combination with an increasing vacancy rate and/or a decrease in median rentsMiscellaneousResearch Other Characteristics relevant to the strength or weakness of a marketExamples:Landlord vs. tenant-friendly state?

I'm looking at options, and might use a combination of that and great stuff in any little cracks, light fixtures etc to reduce the flow of air from the room to the attic.

Then it comes to your short and long term goals, are you looking for big time monthly cash flow, long term appreciation of the value of the properties, maybe a combination of the two?

So sites like Zillow and Trulia and others that combine listings will and should outperform MAAR and similar sites.

Honestly I like the look, but the functionality is missing for me. 

I think combining a real estate license and MLS access with my analytical skills and growing knowledge of specific neighborhoods would be a great way to market myself.

It can add a bunch of home automation functionality to your STRs.

As Dave mentioned, a cost segregation study combined with a 1031 exchange could be a good route for you.

Equity is a function of several factors - down payment, principal pay down, appreciation, etc. 

About right when I moved back I read the famous Rich Dad Poor Dad which, combined with affordable home prices in Spokane, got me excited about real estate.