That's about where I run out of ideas.What tools and techniques are you using to gauge a neighborhood's quality from a distance?

I will use $140k value doing minimum to make safe and not in constant need of maintenance

At the time, it was a relatively safe, up and coming South American country. 

I am NOT interested in owning any more real estate (retired here man) so I had planned on just paying my 15% long term Capital Gains tax rate and moving on to my "safe money" retirement program of MYGA's / CD's and High yield Savings account / Bonds / some Stocks.

The next buyer will also inspect it and will also have a problem with evidence of previous fire… So it will help to have an engineer look at it and say it is safe to live there. 

Is this something in all industries or more in the RE world. thankswishing everyone to stay financial safe

@Shannon L Fogarty the tried and true technique here is to ask other investors in your market who they are using.  

It is NOT safe to do so.Funny story to illustrate: over a decade ago we took over a property with a senior citizen.

Yet you'll get good insight into their techniques.

Quote from @Arkadiy Iliyayev: Thanks for the reply Jake, I really appreciate itIf you cut Brownsville in four pieces using the interstate to divide east and west and Ruben Torres to divide north and south, you'd be safe buying basically anything north of Ruben Torres with the notable exception of Cameron Park.