Try to think about this through Amazon's lens.

I especially appreciate your analysis using CA as your lens!

There's no foolproof way to tell, but if you've got a long enough lens and the area is doing well financially, you should be fine.The key to this gentrification was the development of San Francisco--as all those tech jobs moved to SF, housing prices really started going crazy and pushing the artists out.

So few investors really look at an investment from the lens of their own expectations.

There are still consequences in this country, except for some of the highest offices in the land ;)Try not to look at everything from a liberal or conservative lens - 50% of the population is not responsible for everything bad in this world.

@Adam Macias I think we are seeing this through the same philosophical lens.  

You are stating absolutes from your own limited lens and neglecting to factor in the thousands of investors who've come before you and solved this. 

If you're not ready to pay a professional, order a wide angle lens attachment from Amazon for your cellphone - it literally clips onto your phone and can be as cheap as $20 - and download an app like Curb Appeal which auto-brightens your photos.

I also thought the floor was 18" ceramic tiles, I've never seen vinyl quite like that.Here's a black appliance kitchen of mine (forgive the funky panarama, I need to get an SLR with a superwide lens)  Note the undercounter lighting, is very cheap now and makes a huge difference!

(you should be licensed or have someone on your team who is).If you are only looking at these opportunities thru a "single lens" - i.e., just wholesaling with the an aggressive "ARV x 65% - repairs" formula, you will see less opportunity in your leads.The other issue is your ability to gain trust and negotiate.