Going down to the zipcode isn't helpful in my opinion because the boundary of a zipcode almost never matters where the boundary of a school district, city etc. matters way more. 

The School districts dictate the Bank to use.My credit score took a big hit for a month until I paid it off out of escrow & the cash back wasn't too bad either.

What makes Torrance attractive to tenants are the schools si of the price looks really good its probable not in the Torrance school district.

I invest in my employers 401k plan and they match 5%, my wife has a 403B plan for teachers that the school district doesn't match, we max our Roth out each year, and we put all extra money into real estate.

There is a bill proposed by Chris Ward district 78 called the California Housing Speculation Act that proposes charging a 25% additional tax (an income surtax) on the profit (above the regular tax collected on the profit) if a home is sold within 3 years of purchase. 

It is in the dead-center of the city and located in one of the best school districts in the nation.

We also have 46 district magistrates across the country.

I was in a "Due on Sale" claim that went all the way to the 9th District Court of Appeals.

We bought a flip on N 12th Ave and W Van Buren In Phoenix (in the historic district) near "The Zone" before it became so bad.

Look to areas near Bull St, one of the highest points in the historic district.