It’s the appreciation that makes investing in these lower tier neighborhoods worthwhile.

However you will get to pay significantly less in tax and therefore have a significantly lower mortgage. 

The east side has a lower median income, and the west side is more affluent.

As a seller would you question this and renegotiate a lower percentage of purchase price (3% to listing firm only), or request it is a more even split?

We would like to purchase as a owner-occupied, to get a lower rate and to put a downpayment of only 10%. 

Recently, I learned a valuable lesson that made me step back and reassess how I approach offers to sellers and agents.One example is a duplex deal where I submitted a lower offer due to the significant repairs needed.

Most chase the money and shrug off the lower risk proposition that will allow them to eat well for a few years.

While nearby multi-family duplexes might slightly impact the appeal for certain buyers, they shouldn’t necessarily lower the resale value if the house is well-renovated and priced competitively.

To illustrate this there are probably 50+  active MLS properties in North Philadelphia/South West Philadelphia and other lower tier neighborhoods at any given time where you can complete the BRRRR  method but the real estate is lousy.

I have not bought anything that’s already built or in another state but trying to find another state with lower barriers to entry.