So far I could not be happier.  

Are these neighborhood shifts more regulated by state/local organizations heading up the movement, or are they just becoming popular by word of mouth? 

I am guessing the best buying strategy for good deals in this area are word of mouth, yellow mail marketing, or finding ones that have deferred maintenance where you suspect the landlord wants out of the game.

Money where my mouth is...

But a mini-mansion doesn't really make people happier. 

Do you use word of mouth or websites or what?

They showed me numbers and graphs, sent me out all the info that proved their point, but yet I am still happier than ever in what some people call the Armpit of America, northwest Indiana.

I didn’t want my first one to leave a bad taste in my mouth so I was particular about what I was looking for.

They were completely open about it, but it was a prominent wholesaler/attorney who made me throw up in my mouth a couple of times.

I think it's more word of mouth.