You've purchased that quick-flip property. Now it's time to get the most out of your investment. Real estate players rely on timing, negotiating skills and research to acquire properties that will return a profit. The property you purchase doesn't have to be the property you sell, however. Minor property upgrades can pay for themselves and then some. From the unsightly material clinging to your 60s-era ceiling to the stale air in the living room, minor problems can turn away potential buyers and reduce your profit margin.
A little elbow grease can turn a trouble-ridden property into a hot sell. Try these upgrades if you're looking to add quick value to your real estate investment.
Good and plentiful jobs make good markets better for real estate investors. You’ll get little disagreement on that, as it stands to reason that where there are more jobs (and workers to fill them), you need more housing. The fallout from the recession and concurrent housing crisis means more and more of those workers are renters, as they look to rebuild their credit. And workers bringing home a regular paycheck generally can be counted on to pay the rent – on time! – and take care of the property.
A total of 255 metropolitan areas across 49 states and the District of Columbia qualified to be listed on the National Association of Home Builders/First American Improving Markets Index (IMI) for July, released today. This is down slightly from the 263 metros that made the list in June, but is more than triple the number of metros that were on it in July of 2012.
There are many good reasons to have your property valued. Whether you are applying for a home equity loan or refinancing your mortgage, having an accurate reading on what the value of your property is will be important in achieving the financial goals that you have set for yourself.
Phoenix Arizona Housing Market Crisis
The April Zillow Real Estate Market Reports cover 365 metropolitan and micropolitan areas. In April, 2012 (55%) of the 365 markets showed monthly home value appreciation, and 266 (73%) of the 365 markets saw annual home value appreciation.
While buying single family rental properties has become the darling investment strategy of Wall Street, it may not always make sense for individual real estate investors — particularly in some markets already picked over by the large institutional investors. But there are still markets where the numbers work for the conservative, individual investor looking to purchase foreclosures and other homes as 
