If you were on the border with carpet replacement before they moved in though you could consider accelerating the replacement.

Thanks for all the feedback - @Christopher Salazar, I would be interested in any deals that you have in the SFR or small MFR arenas, especially on the Iowa side of the border!

The areas that borders Ferndale.

I've been looking at the closest cities south of the border for investment opportunities.

- plus more if "wetland testing" is required (apparently the back of the lot borders a tiny strip labelled wetland on the GIS map) .

You're less likely to find 3-4 unit properties (and in Union City those properties are subject to rent control if not owner occupied, so you may have some additional complications), so I think 2 family properties are an easier way to get started here, in my opinion.Ironbound is very expensive in Newark (as are some parts of the North Ward, part of which is a historic district), but there certainly are transitional areas around the borders of some of the neighborhoods/wards.

The DPA idea creaps me out a little and I am definitely in MikeOH's camp that it borders on fraud.

But it is not very far beyond the city borders, into some of the surrounding municipalities, where home ownership and rental costs become reasonable. 

Probably is tough for me to come during a weekday since I am good 3 hours away from the border.

There are certain areas, like the Milwaukee / Tosa border areas, which are well… borders and you can see a real change in the areas where there are crimes reported and the sleepy areas.