That's just my $.02 but I'm sure others have been operating differently with success.As for neighborhoods, West Side, South Buffalo, Kaisertown, decent sections of Black Rock and Riverside, pockets of North Buffalo, maybe some sections of Cheektowaga are going to fall into those categories.

If it is in a highly desirable STR area (the beaches, Riverside etc) it may be beneficial to sell it furnished.

The homeowner, whom my brother in law purchase the house from, was losing his house and he owed 30,000 on it in Riverside.

I want to use it for a fourplex somewhere in Riverside, CA., which is the closest I can to Camp Pendleton, where I am stationed.

I just bought my first property here in Southern California (Riverside).

There's plenty of value to be found in neighborhoods such as Christian Park and Martindale-Brightwood (near Fountain Square and Irvington), Near Northwest-Riverside, Near/Old Southside, and Butler/Tarkington despite being quite close to some of the sketchier parts of the city.If you are ever interested or need assistance, feel free to connect with me.

We own some MF in the Riverside/Murray Hill area and we're selling a turnkey triplex right now in Murray Hill too which might be of interest.

Do you have cities you are thinking about specifically yet or still flexible with the areas around north OC/parts of Riverside? 

Area is Joliet, Homer Glen Il.

I'd suggest these for Cash flow / appreciation: Christian Park (C class)Bean Creek (C class) Garfield Park (B class) Irvington (B class) Emerson Heights / Bosart Brown / Little Flower (C+ class) Near Eastside (not so much Tuxedo Park - C+ class) Parts of the Near Westside near Hawthorne (C to C- class) Riverside (depends here...