I hold two properties in separate military towns in NC and CO.

Around here, the only property - other than vacant land - for sale under $100K is either a dilapidated 2-bdrm "shack" on the outskirts of town (and it's listed at 89K) or an old house in a very rural setting.Even bank repo "Johnny Canuck" house {65 - 70 yr old, 1.5 story 2-3 bdrm houses built by/for returning soldiers after WWII} full of deferred maintenance are going for $135K {two in the last two weeks}.The 30-40K houses and 89-100K 4-plexes you read about on Bigger Pockets is what is enticing investors here to look south (sometimes even further south than the U.S.A).If I had enough cash-on-hand to be purchasing multiple 4 - 6 unit properties outright (at 250-500K a pop), I'd be in the private lending business and not the buy-and-hold business.

On another past appraisal they came in at the exact dollar amount of the towns tax assessment....again a little bit fishy and that one really annoyed me because I felt it was too low and we were refinancing for a better interest rate and it caused us to lose enough equity to require PMI.

when I bought in a dodgy area of town that was between two fashionable areas.

Your in the high rent district, you should explore Ft Lauderdale, Hollywood or Miami for lower investment vehicles.Just an opinion.

Have you researched the average time on market for that section of town?

If the employer moved to another side of town, the city numbers remain the same.Some neighborhoods expand while others grow older and decline.

Alex Ro Coldwell Banker on the east side of town is a good office.

Make sure you explore the forums, blogs, podcasts and other resources here on BP, there is a ton of information and some very helpful members.

I actually live abroad, but I'll be in town next month and hope to meet up with others while I can.