Episode 9: Uncontested Investing with Jawad Dashti

In today’s episode of Uncontested Investing, we dig into one of the most powerful tools at your disposal as a real estate investor: data. It’s not just about crunching numbers, it’s about making smarter, faster, more strategic decisions in a market where the margin for error is razor-thin.   We break down how investors can use both free and paid data tools to spot trends, find deals, set optimal rental rates, and avoid costly mistakes. From migration patterns to ZIP-code-based labor rates, they share real-world ways to let data guide your portfolio growth.    If you’re still relying on your gut, this episode is your wake-up call.   Key Talking Points of the Episode   [00:00] Introduction [01:16] What patterns tell us (vacancy, rent shifts, migration) [02:34] How market influences can change your buy box and strategies [04:03] Property-type trends and market adaptability [05:35] Free tools: Zillow, Redfin, Rentometer, Census.gov, HUD [07:20] Paid tools: CoStar, PropStream, Roofstock, AirDNA, Dwelling [09:22] Local tools: Agents, REIAs, county offices [11:02] How data can help you identify emerging markets [12:01] Avoiding emotional buying with consistent criteria [13:03] The cost of ignoring data: overpaying for properties [15:06] Analysis paralysis: when too much data kills the deal [17:00] Why you need to use data alerts as an investor [18:14] Weekly rent comps and rent optimization [19:31] Balancing rental increases with tenant retention [20:23] Manual tracking: using spreadsheets for micro-market analysis   Quotables   “Use the data to take emotion out of it. You’ll never get a wrong answer when math is leading the way.”   “Census.gov will smack you in the face with the truth. It’s not customizable—it’s real.”   “One bad deal early can drive a new investor right out of the game. Data helps you avoid that.”   Links   RCN Capital https://www.rcncapital.com/podcast https://www.instagram.com/rcn_capital/ info@rcncapital.com   REI INK https://rei-ink.com/