These are decent looking houses on decent streets, but 2 blocks over looks like a war zone.

I've seen them selling homes in blocks to hedge funds and distressed asset funds.

They auto blocked the name of the school in my post reply, but it starts with Dean and last name initial is G.

It's a few blocks from the University in my area and should bring in $800-850 a month....not bad for a $50 K investment.

I've hit a couple of road blocks but I won't let that stop me, no offers no deals.

These are rather extremes.Eventually blocks like these will be torn down by the City's decree so that a private developer can build something of value.

We had a butcher block top one back in the day and I recently had a tenant bring one in.

Joe - If you do a search on this topic in the archives - you will find many other articles that talk about trying to find a "good" realtor - I have answered on many and still feel - the best thing you can do is to leave the stumbling block out of the middle.

Now the road block.

Some areas are easier to buy in as they are more homogenous... others vary block by block and buying off a computer screen is risky at best.Do you have family elsewhere around the US that you could leverage?