The reason to still be in the Bay Area is because ultimately you want to return there and you could get priced right out of the market if you sold and tried to return later. 

Give The Ultimate Guide to Grading Cleveland Neighborhoods James Wise with Holton-Wise a read.

I've already read the Ultimate Beginner's Guide and I'm working through The Book on Rental Property Investing, and I've listened to some podcasts, too.  

Ultimately, we sold the property within a little less than 4 years from our original purchase while generating a substantial IRR.

Most people who are real estate investors ultimately want to build cash flow to retire so they escape the rat race. 

Like it or not, it is very easy to view landlords as the bad guys, and while I completely understand that we all have bills to pay too, the general public does not always give us that benefit of the doubt, and ultimately it is the public's opinion of us that makes our business work or fail.

@Thomas BaylorI think it'd help to work backwards and then start determining which areas of town support your ultimate goal. 

In this case, working with other owners to change the neighborhood will be difficult and incredibly challenging but will ultimately provide a fantastic opportunity Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

I made a handful of folks a lot of money, learned the ins and outs of transactions and how to responsibly get creative, and I learned what space I ultimately wanted to be in and where my strengths lie.

So yes, it’s important to note but ultimately it is only an indicator of future cash flow.