IMO it's not luck, it's risk assessment.   

Hi Travis and welcome to BP.Apart from working with an agent, auction.com and bird dogging, check out bp marketplace.

Darren Ng Certain things like bars-on-windows, chain-link fences, etc. are really hard to assess from afar.

In California, we have Proposition 13 which means that properties are taxed on their assessed value, not market value.

You can get a quick assessment by calling management companies in your area to find out their fee structure.

In the current marketplace, a lower rate is seen as less perceived risk.

if you have laundry on site make sure its coin op , or they are doing laundry on your dime and doing it often.16 year old boiler needs updating to a new high efficiency ones you'll save at least 20%controlled thermostats for each unit so they don't just set temps to a ridiculous tempsmaybe even high efficiency water heaters also (tankless)  worth looking intoenergy assessments from your utility company (they should have a free program-they do in my state)windows and doors . a broken window  can be costly as heat will never seem to turn off but this is summer season and the heat shouldn't be on i would think my neighbor's 6 unit (fully occupied) only costs him $300/month and he provides heat/hotwateroverall i found that i saved most money from insulation my highest gas bill was $425i changed my front door , bill dropped to $375replaced my windows , bill dropped to $325insulation in attic, basement, and knee walls, bill dropped to $275i think i gotten my gas bill as as low as $200 during winter which is pretty good for a single family in my neighborhood

We have not completed a walk through to assess the damage.  

One SFR property I bought for $62K in what I thought was a solid blue collar family neighborhood, assessed, one year later, for even higher for a cash-out re-fi.  

On Zillow, the website has the 2014 Property Taxes as $1,186 and Property Assessment as $61,500.