And then within RE there are gradients of work.

The gradient of snowfall increases quickly as you drive a few miles east of downtown.

On the West Side, however, the gradient is pretty shallow.  

Both area's will have duplexes available, a lot of hard working people, and a gradient of crime from "surprisingly a lot" to "surprisingly little" ("border" to "border" i mentioned above). 

We have seen investors who are successful with many different strategies, but what successful investors all share is that they have a strategy, and they take gradient steps to achieving their goals.

Choosing this weird gradient area allows you to get the higher refi from the appraisal pulling comps from the better area while still getting to make up your capital from the lower purchase price of the investment property. 

From reading here and elsewhere this figure (depending on market, lot condition, gradient, sale price etc.) should be ~15-25% so this example gets a tick. 

Between the two is a gradient for trading off cash flow for chance of appreciation.  

In LA you also need to have the landscape approved as well as getting gradient permits for retaining walls.On the documents you have, there should be phone numbers and names of City officers who are handling the case and you should be able to call them and speak to them.

Trulia was the best I'd seen for my area where the gradient can be really steep with good areas really close to bad.