With all the volatility in today’s real estate market, it’s more important than ever to understand the numbers before you buy. As my grandmother used to say, know how deep the pool is before you jump in! The right software can do just that (metaphorically speaking, of course), turning an often confusing and intimidating analysis into a straight-forward (and dare I say “fun”) exercise. The following case study looks at real estate investment analysis software, and how it can be used by investors—novice and professional, alike—to assess the financial viability and risk of a property.

This case study analyzes real world properties using real estate investment analysis software by GreyStone Analytics (full disclosure: I’m the founder and CEO of GreyStone Analytics, so please forgive any bias). The goal of the study is not to promote a particular software product, but to show how such analysis tools can help investors make profitable decisions.

The scenario: You have $25,000 you want to invest in real estate. You want to maximize your financial return while minimizing risk.

The problem: There are several properties to choose from in your area. How do you select the right one? You need an effective way to evaluate and compare investment financials.

The solution: Use real estate investment analysis software to quickly, simply and effectively evaluate the financial viability and risk of all your options.