Are we not capable, of reading a book and discerning for ourselves what portions have value, and what portions are bunk?

I've done RENTAL properties in "LOW" income and recently done so in "HIGH" Income and the one thing people have to realize is that dealing with people you have to develop a discerning spirit.

Less Red Light and Speed Cameras, parking tends to be FREE. etc.As to areas, I would just suggest you use the MLS access that you have, run numbers on properties based on rent, and the usual expenses of Taxes, Insurance, Debt coverage, etc.Then once an area comes over as decent, check into if Landlords must "register" this is a new trend that provides a landlord with no discernible benefit but to simply pay a yearly fee to the municipality so they can line their coffers more.

Think I'll drive by some of the lower priced ones to try discerning reason for the price difference.

Anybody who habItually doesn’t respect authority is going to not respect their landlord .. any woman who would have such poor discernment to live and have a relationship with a criminal with such history surely is no better than him !

  ;)Your discerning eye is invaluable to my novice one.

@Brent Coombs at the time I was buying a home, and not considering or knowledgeable enough to discern a true deal.

I'm trying to discern if I should be afraid of this property or not.

I've never been able to discern patterns. 

Portfolio financing has no discernible difference in general.