Buying/wholesaling in war zones?

[Rick MacGills]

I'm getting into real estate through wholesaling, and I've invested $20k into education, lawyers, marketing, etc., but I've been struggling to find my first real estate seller because it's a seller's market. I've done quite a bit in the market for weeks now.

At the Greater Cleveland REIA, I've seen emails and heard people talk about how they have properties available in cities like Maple Heights and East Cleveland, and someone even wanted to make an offer on one. So far I've stayed out of war zones because I heard investors don't want to invest there.

As the only properties I hear about are in bad neighborhoods, and I haven't had any luck with probate, FSBOs, or divorcees in good neighborhoods, I'm considering the war zones as an opportunity. In your experience, is that a smart place to invest?

The way I see it is someone just starting with rentals who doesn't have a lot of money could buy them and rent to a renter by necessity. Ex cons and people in poverty have to live somewhere, and if they are set on having a house, they can rent from those landlords and be fine with the crime.

My concern is that even if I have a good deal, will I have a buyer?