If I'm just buying a single lot in a previously developed neighborhood (2014), I get to avoid all those studies, right?

Currently under-contract   with a 4plex in zip 48230 Grosse Point Park Mi, A+ neighborhood 3300 sf, who would you reccomond for primary home owner insurance , michigan policy

In addition to some other OOS investing I’ll be doing, I want to buy a Portland home in a desirable neighborhood for families and rent it out while he completes school with the idea that we’d fix it up in 2 or 3 years and move in ourselves.

Once you add in the cost of repairs you'll likely have a house worth maybe slightly more than the others in the neighborhood but probably not enough to offset the closing costs of doing the cash out refi.This isn't to say that it can't be done and plenty of people have had success doing it........but it's something you'd have to know well to make sure it will actually work.

-Definitely want the artsier and trendier neighborhoods.

I usually get grand slams with a mixture of both but looking at a nice house in a really crappy neighborhood.

Even in the so called good areas there are small pockets of those neighborhoods that you want to shy away from.

Consider setting up key word alerts for the names of the suburbs, the names of the DC neighborhoods, also be sure to have D.C. as well as DC. 

There are several near me with neighborhood sounding names like "Zellwood Station", "Chalet North", "The Hills", "The Valley", "Overland Village" etc.

What neighborhood is it in?