I hate forced city inspections, and I'll fight against them whenever I can. In my opinion, they're unnecessary and are simply another tax on those who are already paying more than enough. Having said that, if forced inspections are not already in the city where you buy, they soon will be, so that alone should not stop you from buying.
As far as buying in "the hood," I agree with Rocky. I don't want to have to wear a bullet-proof vest when I collect the rent. BUT some of the most successful real estate investors I know buy almost exclusively in "the hood," because the cashflow potential in "the hood" is oftentimes far better there than anywhere else.
Happy Investing!
