North St. Louis (deep pockets)

The lowest entry prices and highest paper yields in the metro, with scattered redevelopment and land-assembly activity in some areas.

Among the region's highest-crime and most disinvested areas, with severe vacancy and deep deferred maintenance. The headline yields rarely survive the actual ownership reality for a remote investor, even with capable management.

Investors who understand that the highest advertised yields often come with the highest execution risk.