Detroit

Southeast Michigan has taken in waves of refugees from the Middle East conflicts for decades, resulting in a strong Arab-American community. Refugee advocates say they're prepared to help Syrians.

Housing prices there have dropped, opening up investment opportunities — but only if you know how to invest. One professor is teaching inner-city residents how to get in on the market.

An important part of Detroit's skyline is on the auction block — the 29-story Fisher Building. The bank foreclosed on it, and next week, it goes up for sale online.

The city is desperately trying to repopulate tens of thousands of abandoned homes, auctioning them off online for as low as $1,000. But the cost of repairs often exceeds the value of the homes.

It doesn't have a lot of high-tech companies, but the city is interested in attracting young tech entrepreneurs. Detroit's rents are far more affordable, but then there are the brutally cold winters.

Even with cheap rent, the cost of doing business is high. With the nation's highest commercial property taxes, one business mogul says this stunts entrepreneurship in a city that needs more jobs.

The city has some of the highest auto insurance rates in the U.S. Many residents there drop coverage — or claim they live outside the city limits. The mayor has a plan to cut the cost of insurance.