Exploring neighborhoods: West Allis / Greenfield Ave 90th - 105th St.

Today after dropping off my kids from school, I was going to go to my new favorite cheap grocery store (Aldi) but it was not open yet, so I took a drive to a neighborhood a few miles away to check out a foreclosed home listed on Zillow.

It was interesting to see.  The home is listed and just had a $20k price reduction.  Now I can see why.  It was most interesting that the home next door is also for sale (likely foreclosed with a big neon green sheet on the front door), and the home across the street is also for sale.   The neighborhood is older, and looks tired.  The neighborhood is a real mixed bag, there are some very nice newer commercial developments nearby, the freeway has been updated, and there is strong retail, and a large hospital in the area.  There are also many older businesses that look as tired as some of the homes. 

I wonder if the area may be rising a little, but there is nothing unique about it that makes it a special draw.  

Although the property prices are in my price range, I'm crossing this block area off my target list. 

Then I drove through another neighborhood about 15 blocks over that had another home for sale.  This one also had nothing going for it.  Very small yard, very close to the neighbors houses, busy street nearby, trailer park nearby, nothing special or particularly attractive about the property.

As I was driving around, I was recalling when I lived in another area of West Allis, in an upper flat that was owner-occupied by a nice family.  I also remembered when I was rollerblading alone on the sidewalks around where I lived one summer and some other young women yelled at me and  threatened to beat me up (for what?  for rollerblading?)  What an odd memory -- but -- it makes me wonder -- maybe this is not going to be my favorite area for investing. 

This time spent driving is actually good research.  I'm able to ignore a large area where the lower property prices might suck me in, but I should remember that both of these areas are not very attractive, **especially** when taking a long-term view. 

I can do better!!