I can't overemphasize the importance of knowing what is going on politically, socially and crime-wise in your target markets.  Let me give a quick example- Clayton County on the southside of Atlanta, lost its accreditation for its school district in 2008, the first time that has happened anywhere in the United States for 40 years.  They came close to losing it again a couple of years ago.  Also in 2008, Clayton County elected a very controversial sheriff.  In 2010, during the wave election the controversial sheriff was voted out of office.  In 2012, the controversial sheriff was indicted on 37 counts for actions he took during his 2009-2011 term in office.  But lo and behold, with Obama on the ballot and despite the 37-count indictment the controversial sheriff won another term in November 2012.  Although, Georgia has laws preventing current officeholders under indictment from being on the ballot, no one previously imagined an indicted non-office holder would be elected to office.   

As you can easily imagine these factors weigh heavily on the real estate market in Clayton County. Do you think most real estate agents will mention these issues? Obviously some will, but the majority? This is not the type of information that is going to turn up in a zillow or MLS search.

Bottomline-it is up to you to figure out what is going on.  It is your money.