There are some cool apps out there that help like propstream, etc. but in the end some good old fashioned research is where it's at.   

They would rather have a smaller space that is decorated fashionably than grandmas house with furniture purchased new in 1968.  

As I am writing this I just thought about another option being Little Italy in Cleveland which is walking distance to University Hospitals and Case Western Reserve University.  

If you are absolutely against buying in Williamsburg, maybe Western Branch or somewhere on the Penninsula closer to the population centers will be worth looking at.

In which case, if he hasn't notified his insurance company and then reports it and they are asked to investigate and/or defend him against a possible suit, he could jeopardize his entire claim to be denied for coverage as he would have failed to report the loss in a "timely" fashion, and also muddying the waters by offering money (which they would NOT want you to do, as a lot of people take that as an admission of guilt, even if that is NOT the case).It is a tight rope and while we all want to be humanitarian and sympathetic, our society has not made it easy; especially with a large proliferation of people oftentimes simply suing just to sue...that's just my .02.Regardless, I hope this can be reasonablly resolved for the OP (with little to -0- out-of-pocket on his behalf).

Most are in the western part of Hancock County near McCordsville and New Palestine.

While "upscale vs old-fashioned" would be a subjective option, it would be great to aggregate data around a timeframe when "big items" were updated, i.e. cabinets and flooring were updated in <1 year, or roof is <3 years old, etc.

I'm looking at a 3/2 SFH 1,430 sqft in Fayetteville, Arkansas--in the western part of town out toward Farmington.  

I am looking for the best way to find the facts in a timely fashion to make this decision, so if anyone has tried and true strategies or ideas, I am all ears!

If you pay market price than you will have a tough time executing out in a advantageous fashion.