"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
even in the crappiest neighborhood 95% of the people are just trying to pay their bills and make ends meet every month. I'ts not that hard to stay out of harms way. Children do change the mix and shouldn't be brought into it.
The key is to stay away from the 2-3% that are pure evil. I lived in a crack neighborhood in the late 80's. Houses sold for 40-60K. We rented when we couldn't sell in the 91 downturn and waited. 15 years later the houses are 5-650K. Risk/ reward is awesome when it goes your way. Many of my contemporaries rented for much more than our house payment for security reasons and it took them years longer to get their 1st homes. Because we were always fugal and never overextended we ended up at the high water mark with 5 houses. Risk/ reward mixed with sweat equity is awesome when it goes your way. I'd do it again in a heart beat.