I’m from Kansas City.

If you're targeting safe areas with good school districts, I'd consider focusing on the North side of town cities like Woodstock, Acworth, Kennesaw, Marietta, and parts of Cobb County.

Are prices in the city too high and people are spreading out to find affordable living?

Im in Kansas City

It is one street over from a historic, A neighborhood.  

so I drove to the property, there explained everything. you can see the sky through the roof, half of house was gone, the windows were boarded up..... it was in a tiny neighborhood, I mean there are only 7 houses in the neigh hood, off a main street.

Is it in city center or suburbs ?

Creating a separate legal address is going to be an effort of love between you and the city. 

Right now, 15 California cities have rent control policies.

So you'll need either a UPS box or a USPS *Street Addressing* box.