Residential Real Estate Investor · Kansas City, MO · Member since 2014 · 10k+ posts · 5k+ votes
8y
City-Data.com has a map feature that you can look at different blocks by income and other such factors. Unfortunately not crime. CLRSearch is great for getting zip code crime data. And while it costs money, ESRI has great block-by-block data including crime numbers. So those would be good to look at. And of course, just driving the neighborhoods and asking locals is of great help as well.
Specialist · Memphis, TN · Member since 2012 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
8y
TO be honest @Andrew Syrios crime data in Memphis is not that helpful. Spotcrime is the best resource I know of for crime data but if you went off those figures nobody would invest in Memphis :-).
Rental Property Investor · Knoxville, TN · Member since 2017 · 147 posts · 65 votes
8y
I love to hear about "war zones," people have multiple different perspectives. What matters is where investors buy. I did some business in a so-called war zone in Knoxville once or twice. A lot of the talk is just stigma and some is true. It is unfortunate because I really enjoy going to these areas sometimes. Of course some of the tenants and residents have problems but some of them are really good and decent people.
In just about every area I have found that there are good properties and good tenants. In some it is just harder to find than others. I never stray away or completely rule out any lead, because to me, one of the most fun things about real estate is meeting all different kinds of people and having common ground with people of so many different backgrounds. In some areas you do have to be careful but there are usually places, in Knoxville at least, that you can find decent properties, decent owners, and decent tenants.
Developer · Knoxville, TN · Member since 2017 · 53 posts · 24 votes
8y
I love your outlook, totally on point with how investors need to view the market. I guess in my opinion, there are varying degrees of war zones in Knoxville. If you’re talking absolute war zones, I’m thinking east Knoxville, south of magnolia, from downtown then west to Holston hills. North of magnolia, west of cherry st, or park ridge colloquially, is where I, and my family, have made good money and gentrification is strong right now. Anecdotallly, I’ve heard south Knoxville, vestal area, is coming on strong lately. Recently, I came close to closing an 8 unit right on magnolia but couldn’t quite make the numbers work out. It would have made a nice addition to the portfolio. In my humble opinion, it takes longer to secure the tenant when you’re screening properly in these neighborhoods but definitely worth it, if only for the diversification (section 8/ KCDC).
I’m putting on a BiggerPockets meetup Nov 30th at 6:30pm at Barleys in the old City. You’re welcome to come, I’d like to continue this conversation, hope you can make it. Good luck.