Plus we have downtown neighborhoods with walkability and urban amenities but also tree-lined streets and parks that offer a balance.  

I can confirm the influx (although I hadn't quite realized the extent of it) and the popularity of the urban core.

The latter can have a huge influence.I am of the opinion that Europe has been taking its medicine the past few years by making efforts to reduce government debt and the burden on society.

THIS is our society today, the games, lies, gimmicks, a-ok as long as it's "fun", even "good" for being such. 

Whenever you are buying a property out of state you should do a few things to ensure it's as smooth as possible.Don't buy in the roughest neighborhood in the urban core.

That is why I don't invest there: I do SF only, and it doesn't make sense in Manch-Vegas.One thing that can trip up people from more urban areas is thinking that small towns and rural areas must all be "OK", from a poverty and crime perspective.  

I think society in general does not understand the law and how police officers do their jobs. 

I have always invested in a rural area within an hour of a fast growing urban area like Colorado Springs.

Ask some urban farmers what their leases look like.

A recent deal I saw was a small 2/1 house on one of what was in fact 6 lots zoned R6 (urban residential I believe, does permit multis) for $135k.