Maybe there are a couple of neighborhoods which have gone downhill, but overall I am not sure where you are getting that and/or who is telling you this information.

I had EVERYTHING spec'd out since I couldn't be there those days and returned to see a bucket of pre-mixed mortar-right there I knew I was F'd since you will NEVER see a tile pro with a pre-mix bucket, its all bag mortar and it was downhill from there.

The first step is the hard one, but once you learn its all downhill.

Is it an improving neighborhood or is it going downhill fast?

Cloverleaf (that might be 40216) was a great working class neighborhood 10 years ago but as the old oo’s die off, it has slowly been going downhill.  

@Nicholas Coulter Yeah, to me it seemed like March and April closings was the peak of the market and all down hill from there.

SalvagableFalling limb busted the outside ac condenser.Falling limb poked a hole in the roof above the master bathWhole house is just smells horrible.Also seem to have some settling under the back corner of the raised foundation.I was pretty amazed at how fast it went downhill.

This happened to a friend of mine, the first month's rent check bounced and it was all down hill from there!

Older, more established neighborhoods: Land-locked so no new supply is coming but demographics seem to be slowly shifting and schools are going downhill.

Now on the other hand (which happens to be my luck) you have the one looking for a fireplace, deck, all the upgrades and the rest is down hill as far as them maintaining the property etc.