Oaks St, East Palo Alto

Like the rest of this housing development, Tinsley Street is part of a nice complex of condominiums in a town that has a reputation for being run-down and unsafe, but has undergone recent cleanup. The result? An excellent, excellent investment area (although not as good as five years ago). The neighborhood is comprised of working and middle-class homeowners who are friendly with each other - and look out for each other. In addition to being a solid investment property and looking like my grandparents' neighborhood in South Florida, it is an easy target for some of the poorer neighborhoods nearby.

As a result, burglar alarms are unfortunately a necessity in this modest neighborhood. Other pitfalls include proximity to the 101 (this could be good for those who need easy access, but the highway is loud and congested), a large shopping complex in the backyard, and a smattering of homes that all look identical to one another.

Bottom line? Get a great burglar alarm, bring earplugs if you are on the western portion of the street, bring some casserole for the neighbors, and enjoy a lovely, affordable home in the heart of Silicon Valley.