NACO.org
The very first resource that we use is the National Association of Counties, NACO.org. NACO is headquartered in Washington, DC and provides information about 3,000 different counties in America. On NACO’s home page you can find a lot of information about NACO itself and it’s purpose. From the home page, click Counties. From that page, click on City-County Search. Type in the Zip Code of the area you want to research in to the search box. Some interesting facts about that zip code will populate for you including the area’s population and a link to the county’s web site. The primary way that we use this site is by linking to specific county sites and finding county information. NACO is a great resource. It’s free and always updated.
Google
Google is a great resource as well. You can user the search functions to link directly to counties, find values, formulas, and basically anything you would ever want or need through a Google search.
Google Maps
Google Maps is a must use tool. One reason is the website images are updated regularly so investors can take a look at a property while they are researching. Another reason to use Google Maps is because of the Street View. This has been developed over the past few years and provides a view of the property from the street. After you search a property grab the little guy above the zoom scale and drag him in front of the property. You will see a blue highlight where you can drop him. Once dropped you can see the property from the street.
Zillow
Zillow provides similar services as Google Maps. In fact, it’s a mash up of Google Maps and estimated property values. After searching the property you will be shown a satellite image of the area and the property. You can see the estimation of a property’s worth. It also shows basic information about the property. You can also get information for real estate agents in the area. You could contact them to get opinions on a specific property in the area.
You can find similar information on Trulia.com. All of those tools are excellent resources in which to view images and to get estimates of a property’s market value.
The very first resource that we use is the National Association of Counties, NACO.org. NACO is headquartered in Washington, DC and provides information about 3,000 different counties in America. On NACO’s home page you can find a lot of information about NACO itself and it’s purpose. From the home page, click Counties. From that page, click on City-County Search. Type in the Zip Code of the area you want to research in to the search box. Some interesting facts about that zip code will populate for you including the area’s population and a link to the county’s web site. The primary way that we use this site is by linking to specific county sites and finding county information. NACO is a great resource. It’s free and always updated.
Google is a great resource as well. You can user the search functions to link directly to counties, find values, formulas, and basically anything you would ever want or need through a Google search.
Google Maps
Google Maps is a must use tool. One reason is the website images are updated regularly so investors can take a look at a property while they are researching. Another reason to use Google Maps is because of the Street View. This has been developed over the past few years and provides a view of the property from the street. After you search a property grab the little guy above the zoom scale and drag him in front of the property. You will see a blue highlight where you can drop him. Once dropped you can see the property from the street.
Zillow
Zillow provides similar services as Google Maps. In fact, it’s a mash up of Google Maps and estimated property values. After searching the property you will be shown a satellite image of the area and the property. You can see the estimation of a property’s worth. It also shows basic information about the property. You can also get information for real estate agents in the area. You could contact them to get opinions on a specific property in the area.
You can find similar information on Trulia.com. All of those tools are excellent resources in which to view images and to get estimates of a property’s market value.