Our friend isn't answering texts...The city just finished a lot of street work in front of our rental and it's time to replace the mailbox.

Many bad houses are being taken down by the city.

Are there any other resourses to find out what parts of a city or town are better than others?

They are platted as 3 whole city blocks.

From financing issues due to Encroachment Agreements with the city of Olympia, WA (Thurston County), to some interesting findings with the home inspector. 

Do your research of the neighbourhood for crime stats, rentals versus owner-occupants, sometimes cities provide this information or other data sites.My first rental was in a questionable area, and it was quite a learning experience.

I'm mostly interested in smaller markets outside the Twin Cities (Duluth/Superior, Mankato, Rochester, St Cloud). 

The pros that I like are: longer leases, dealing with businesses not people, NNN leases and most houses in MN are quite old especially outside the cities.

North Richmond is tougher than the iron triangle, but it is unincorporated so it falls under County of Contra Costa and not under City of Richmond tent control which is a big plus.  

Have your parents and you buy together an rental property in Twin City.