QUESTION:
I am trying to understand the difference between "master score" and "wealth maximizer score".
My main objective is to choose areas that would appreciate the most, so that I can benefit from leveraged appreciation. My strategy would be to buy and hold as long as I am getting good appreciation and then sell when appreciation dies down.
For this strategy, should I put more weight on one score versus the other? I have mostly been following the "master score" but recently learned about the "wealth maximizer score".
ANSWER:
The Wealth Maximizer Score (PRO only) is a more advanced score than the Master Score (now the Market Outlook Score), because it takes numerous indicators into consideration — of which the Market Outlook Score is just one. For a leveraged-appreciation, buy-and-hold-then-sell strategy like yours, the Wealth Maximizer score is the one to lean on: it's purpose-built to surface markets set up for leveraged appreciation.
We also added the Wealth Maximizer "Strategic Market Scanners" (the Magic Buttons / strategy presets, PRO only), which identify several indicators that support future appreciation. Applying a strategy preset lets you then sort the filtered results by any indicator, so you can refine the markets by a particular attribute — cash flow, median home value, and so on.
As with any nationwide or statewide search, don't jump straight to the ZIP level — start at the Metro level, then drill down into the winning metros to find the best micro-markets inside them.
On the new platform: apply the Wealth Maximizer strategy preset (or add the Wealth Maximizer score as a column in The Table), rank the field, then drill into the top metros' Market Summary Report.