Keep the gems and put good management in place. 

You can still find gem, but you're going to be making a hefty down payment.

c) Lastly, if all of the places on the above map look pretty bad (from an investment perspective), do you have any advice on how to find motivated sellers / hidden gems in the area?

Yes heard it all before, it depends what you buy, where you buy and boots on the groundI was told not to buy in Atlanta (south] in 2011,  glad I did not listen, I now generate close to $200,000 income per year from my rentalsIts about finding the gems and understanding market conditions, the trend can be your friend or enemyAll the best

"all data and actual industry professionals say [a crash] has a LESS a chance of happening then getting hit by lightning while being mauled by a Grizzley"Thank you for putting this gem out there.

Checking my sources daily for another gem. 

Originally posted by @David Macias:@Enrique Kratz California has many hidden gems.

Most cash-flow markets are hit and miss with trashy streets 3 blocks from gems.

If you’re willing to put some work into a rehab, that’s where you will find the gems in today’s market.

I just found a client a property that met 1.75% rule in a town adjacent to Boston so those small gems do exist if you look hard enough.