@Angelo Van I am a big fan of the 1% rule; it is my first measure after the neighborhood.

Neighborhood doesn't seem like a war zone, is it?

Parts of it have been, such as the Leonidas area on the West side of Carrollton and also the East side of Carrollton. 70118 also includes the Black Pearl neighborhood and the areas around Audubon Park which are vastly different neighborhoods compared to around Eagle and Palm. 

@Henry Offiah What neighborhood is your house located in?

For example: I have a plan to buy 12 3 bed/2 bath in B- neighborhoods, at a discount from the retail price.

I recently came across a very large (3.5 acres) undeveloped plot of land in Los Angeles in a residential neighborhood.

Big house (5BR), big lot, great neighborhood.

The first thing I recommend is to identify what property/neighborhood class that you are interested in.

Sellers in competitive neighborhood expect you release contingencies after viewing etc. 

Focus on gentrifying neighborhoods (more potential for rapid appreciation,) look for value add project (maybe expansion, renovation, etc.)