The neighborhood is a multi-ethnic neighborhood, so there isn't a typical look, other than the fact that they don't look like little skinny white dudes with tattoos running all over their bodies and weigh 110 lbs and the fact that they have witnessed the drug deals occurring right on the street in front of their houses. 

Maybe put a small planter at the corner of the street/sidewalk area with a corner split rail fence just to accent the corner, front door with a window at least on top. 

I would not especially want to live down there, but I just bought and renovated a few units in a 4plex down on a pretty nice street in East Oakland.

Only from the main breaker back to the transformer in the street. 

I had suggested that we all use the same property manager and at least give the street the appearance of a cohesive complex, rather than 13 individual buildings.

I negotiate (other than real estate) for a living, there are times it is better to throw out the first number, especially if you think a seller has a crazy high number in their head.If you have reason to believe they think its worth (pick a number) $100k, and a fair deal would be more like $60k, throw out a low number to start, this makes the negotiations start at the lower number.Now I will say, don't throw out the top dollar you will give for the property, and I agree in most cases let them throw it out, but I'd rather defend a $50k offer that is somewhat realistic, than start at $100k and work your way down,,and don't just 'throw out a number', given the reasons for your offer before you give the number.If from your conversations you know the seller is going to use the house down the street that sold at $110k, then go ahead and deal with that now,,explain that there are houses in the market that have sold for very high prices, those houses (explain the difference),,,take away what he is going to try to use against you in negotiations before he can.

The neighborhood isn't great but it's located on a "stable" street with no boardedup houses and mostly long time homeowners.My question was really to find out if other investors would do the quick flip and move on to the next one.

Try to make sure they feed the same elementary school, and try not to cross any major streets.3. 

It's crazy to me how just a couple streets can make a huge difference in the quality of the neighborhood.

I've been looking at comps and here's what I'm finding:2 similar homes (1 a few doors down on the same street, 1 on a street 1 block down) of similar size (within 200 sq ft, same br/ba) have sold within the last 6 months for 159 and 163k.2 similar homes are currently for sale on the same street for 159 and 160.I'm not sure if this is enough comps to begin making an appraisal?