Here's a breakdown:A - newest buildings, hottest restaurants, best schools, wealthiest people, highest-cost real estateB - slightly older buildings, decent restaurants, decent schools, middle class/blue collar people, updated but not as shiny real estateC - 30+ year old buildings, lower income housing, check cashing businesses, pay check to pay check peopleD - War zone, wouldn't want to try here alone, high crime and usually lots of drug use/salesCrimeCrime is a big deterrent of attracting good tenants and high home values.

Glad to see where I am investing (El Paso County, CO) wages are increasing, not a ton (1.9%) but at least positive trend. 

Just this past weekend I sat with a group of seasoned investors in the Philly market and learned so much about the trends, different neighborhoods, strategies that worked/didn't work etc.  

There continues to be trends promoting conserving water and multifamily retrofitting in the Chicago area.  

It sounds good if that's the deal price at only $27,777 per unit, but in a C+ or trending up area.  

Unfortunately its part of a larger industry trend of charging service fees for lobbying and the cost of acquisition.

I can accept the Trend MLS fee but see no reason to be a Realtor and pay 592 a year for the "benefits".

It may not be perfect, but price trends per neighborhood are very likely reflective of what is really the case in real life.

Check out the population & jobs trends. 

Urban Institute Research - Errs on the policy side, but some very interesting reads and long-term trend articles.Like Wall Street Journal, but the REI focus is very institutional, and tends to have more bearing on my stock / REIT portfolio than any physical investments.