They had a great occupancy rate and cash flow and lived in a very basic apartment in an okay or rather trendy-area-adjacent part of town.

They aren't as "trendy" but they are where the money is at. 

The big trend is building those tall, thin 3-4 story homes that are five inches from the neighboring home.Regarding Shady Acres specifically, the plus side is that you're very close to some great restaurants along Ella.

Is it a trendy area where poor schools and high crime don't matter?

When I first started working, I read all of those trendy personal finance blogs and books and so max'd out my (and my spouse's)  401k.Seven years later, I wish I hadn't and here's why:1.

Interestingly not everyone is headed for the sticks, which means the trend is not one of mere 'escapism' or 'refuge seeking,' but one of actual relocation.

it could be a small private school..in carolina many small religious colleges (think less than 3,000 students) do not allow off campus housing, or limit it to seniors with a good gpa or something..something else to look into...but eddie, i admire your imagination on this one..there is a run down, boarded up motel in a trendy hot area where i live that i would love to change into one bedroom efficiencies...i prob wouldn't even tear out the heart shaped jacuzzis lol

Another concerning trend is that the property keeps dropping in sales price.

It has become trendy for certain media outlets to attempt to make political statements by portraying the entire city as a war zone, but this is really far from the truth.

Then 2020 go downward trend. I