While I can't speak for Cleveland, here in Kansas City the $15,000 neighborhoods just have vacant lots with a few houses here and there, there are no jobs in the area, no amenities in the area, the schools are horrible  . . . while that $15,000 could be spent on a down payment a few miles a way in South Kansas City, Raytown, Independence on a $50,000 to $80,000 house and you may not get the same returns on paper as the $`15,000 house, but you have less back end expenses, tenants who have jobs and the desire to feed their kids good food and send their kids to better schools and more occupied houses . . .less vacant lots, so less breakins and theft.Move up on that price range to  an $80,000 to $120,000 neighborhood and you can do even better.  

Welcome to the BP  community Beau.

Welcome to BP!

Welcome to BP @Susan Barry.

All recommendations or warnings welcomed.

Any advice/tips are welcomed!

Hi Barclay, and welcome!

But the trouble is the metro area has changed a lot since I was a kid and maybe there are areas that I shouldn't consider/need to consider or other facts that I need to know - knowledge that I can't glean from those sites.

@Mark P.First off welcome to B/P.

@Tyler Moore welcome to BP!