I am trying to understand how to identify a good neighborhood.

It all starts with a great house in a great neighborhood, good schools, etc.

I don't think I'd bank on the sale price of a MFH increasing enough to justify that style of investment.

Welcome @Auria Styles , from just above you in the East Bay!

Purchase SFR in Piqua Ohio, located in an "A" neighborhood.

The opening bid is about a third of the ARV according to comps in the neighborhood.

I, however, have a very narrow focus - buy and hold in a low income neighborhood a few miles from my house.

I have roughly 5 years of formal work experience with different aspects of default real estate, although most of it is with paralegal style work, as I was at a default-based law firm and now am working at a bank in different servicing aspects of foreclosure (residential).Investing in default properties has always interested me, so I may begin there, but I'm here at BP to learn as much as possible to make my first deal a successful one.

Congrats on having the equity that you do.Let me try to explain my position: Because of the economic climate in my (and other) areas I can likely get $1695 out of a home in an 'B+' neighborhood for $150K ($300/mo net income if fully rented).

Comps in the neighborhood make its after repair value around 80,000.