The main neigborhoods I am looking at now are East Atlanta Village, Adair Park, Old Fourth Ward, and Grant Park due to the fact that these areas are in my price point and I believe they are on the rise, but I want some data to prove that before I just dive in.  

Its that 15 degree's of separation.. there was a novel ( fiction)  that was popular in the 90's called the Celetine prophecies and the upshot is you never know were a chance meeting will lead you.. but you have to MEET.. not just hid behind a computer. ( not that your hiding behind a computer ) but you get what I mean.. it takes getting out there and mixing and that one meeting could change your life..

My brother chose to start investing there 20 years ago and has found that in the small town/village tourist areas the land is held by locals that generally have no money to develop it.

Wanted to piggyback on Mindy's post regarding investing locally, I've lived in a few south 'burbs, including near you in Sauk Village.

wow lots of people defending a guru's work of pure fiction.   

They're located in Bridgeport Village in Tigard

or village? 

I have tried to buy a property near downtown, especially around the USC-90007 area, because it is appreciating like crazy, plus the USC village will be outstanding and all the people working downtown that wants to live in a house 5-10 min from work will live there.

but here it is anyway.Fourth, your "fudge factor expenses are fictional at best"...as in they are giving you false negatives on your deal, and worse, false security on your deal.  

Got a call from the fire dept in one of the villages nearby.