Azalia Dr, East Palo Alto

The southeast section of East Palo Alto is home to the traditional, run-down homes that the town is known for, but happens to be in a more desirable location, nestled in between a new housing development and the Palo Alto Golf Course (an odd dichotomy, to say the least). Azalia Drive boasts many single-family homes of varying degrees in quality, but the proximity to the safer parts of town make this neighborhood better than some.

Driving through, it still has a bit of a 'hood feel, for lack of a better term, but the layout is such that it is unlikely that one will drive through, as the street is far more offset from the main drags than some of the neighboring parts of town. Given the town's small size, the police are never far off, but it is possible to live in the area for months and not even know that this neighborhood exists.

First-time homebuyers may want to consider investing in a property here - the views of the neighboring houses may not be the most stunning, but this is one place where property value is increasing, in a nicer part of a run-down town. And with proximity to so many great things in the Bay Area, you won't even have to spend much time at home!