Whenever you are buying a property out of state you should do a few things to ensure it's as smooth as possible.Don't buy in the roughest neighborhood in the urban core.

In the end we are a hyper capitalist society and the laws of economics will win in a big way.

Once you figure that out, look for places with strong population and job growth, urban or suburban development, and maybe a community that can cater to small multifamily, so you can do a house hack in a duplex or 4 unit.

Just be smart when you spend money to do good in society.

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded $42.8 million in housing counseling grants to help approximately one million Americans make more informed housing choices, keep their current homes, or receive assistance to help them avoid foreclosure."

. #1 - Go to Zillow and do a radius search from a "subject" house for .5 if urban and 1 mile if suburban. #2 - Go back only 6 to 12 months#3 - Year built#4 - Composite of exterior, exterior and interior condition#5 - Style - split level, ranch, colonial...#6 - Look for lot size, living area size (above basement) GLA or Gross Living Area (add basement separately) Below Grade living area. #7 - How many total ROOMS, beds, baths, fireplace, pool, extras, remodeled (year) view, condition etc#8 - Garage, on-street parking, off-streetLook for 3 comparable sold properties and 3 comparable active for sale properties. 

Thankfully in our urban setting, nothing other than the occasional neighborhood cat strolling by, or the over-served patron from the hole-in-the-wall drinking establishment across the street. 

Despite what we may like to believe, this society is male dominated and can exhibit extreme forms of sexism. 

This tenant would have been considered a danger to society.   

I haven't heard @Jason Hartman speak on it, but I would agree with the urban flight belief.