I gotta admit, I kind of fell in love with this ugly house and once it gets an addition to solve some of these problems, I think it could be a real gem that buyers fight over.

Looks like a gem.

These are the keywords/special circumstances I use when looking for properties: short sale, bank owned, REO, Estate Sale, Handyman Special, Needs Work, TLC, Motivated Seller, SOLD AS IS"Sold As Is" is usually the worst one though because it pulls up a lot of rehabbed properties that aren't usually deals but I keep it just in case I find that one gem.

Some great neighborhoods you have referenced and North Philadelphia could be a hidden gem for cash flow and hold scenarios.

In general, towns south of Marshfield are eligible with the exception of bigger towns like Brockton, Taunton, Plymouth, Fall River, New Bedford and Attleboro.The south shore is a real gem - you get a lot more for your money here than other parts of eastern MA.

I'm a bit surprised that the property next door is boarded up considering that Fairmount is such a gem in the Philly community, are your North of Fairmont ave or on the east side of Broad street on Fairmount?

really sad, fifteen years ago Clayton county was a gem.  

There are also people who won't even consider bidding in the auctions and they just pick through the liens that did not sell looking for the gems that slipped through.

@Christian HutchinsonThanks Christian, getting harder to find the gems as market starts hotting up

Sometimes you get lucky and find that gem but you have to spend a little more.