In general I think most of the price appreciation occurs at the tail end of the gentrification process. In other words, a few people buy in, the neighborhood improves, prices creep up, then more people move in and are willing to deal with the lack of retail and crime, and prices creep up some more as older residents sell out. But then when things start to get really nice, the prices take off and people start bidding wars. So you're better off buying into already gentrifying neighborhoods.
just follow the gay's around, they are the ones gentrifying neighborhoods, the gentrification marines
Imo, depends on what you want to do. If you want to buy and hold, you have to buy near landmarked buildings or transportation. If you want to be a slumlord, there's an app for that (j/k but there is a method to buying to be a slumlord) for example buy on the edge of a ghetto, ghetto's only get bigger. the center of the ghetto is dead fucking broke. Yea, gays might be a leading indicator or two income no kids, but people are only going to move downtown if the schools improve. Schools are the key.
Schools are only the key if you want to attract families. DC has gentrified without the schools improving at all. Schools are for suburbs.
Umm, try Zillow before asking us here? How about Detroit, East St. Louis, or a zillion rural towns in flyover states?
I agree with the others. Forward oil would be a cleaner way to play it, and you won't have to hammer any nails or pickup any rent.