New to RE, learning all I can, Bay Area based

[Chris Vandivort]

Hey team,

New to real estate investing.  I've had the bug for a while and have read a few books and tried to pencil out the occasional deal, but I'm looking to get more active now that I've gotten to the "some breathing room" point in my career.

Mostly looking to do long term rentals. Probably SFH or duplexes to start. Not entirely clear to me if I'd like to go full BRRR (don't know that the macro situation is good for that strategy right now), but something I could put a little rehab into so I can get immediately ahead on equity would probably be ideal. Wouldn't be opposed to flipping opportunistically if I happened to get lucky with a hot market/great offer, but plan A would be long term rentals.

Really looking to find a good way to get a first property under my belt and learn a lot without risking too much capital.

The wrinkle is that I live in Bay Area CA. Most houses and duplexes here do not seem to be priced to cash flow from my back of envelope math. Plus, prices are high enough that, while I could afford one, it would be a bigger swing than I'd want to take for my first one, allowing for rookie mistakes and etc. If it didn't go well, it would potentially hit me a lot harder than I'd like it to.

The alternative might be to look out of state, but I haven't really found any good advice about that. Seems like I'd be a little bit at the mercy of contractors/vendors/and potentially sketchy property management people, although I'm sure some people have made it work.

To anyone thinking about responding, I'm looking for:

-advice on that in state/out of state dilemna

-suggestions for how to spend the next 100 hours of learning

-and really any advice you might have!!  I'm an open book.

Cheers,

Chris

Edit: About me - I'm a longevity doctor (MD), very much health obsessed.  Relatively new to the Bay Area and very open to Bay Area connections whether actionable or not.

[Wilson Lau]

Quote from @Chris Vandivort:

Hey team,

New to real estate investing.  I've had the bug for a while and have read a few books and tried to pencil out the occasional deal, but I'm looking to get more active now that I've gotten to the "some breathing room" point in my career.

Mostly looking to do long term rentals. Probably SFH or duplexes to start. Not entirely clear to me if I'd like to go full BRRR (don't know that the macro situation is good for that strategy right now), but something I could put a little rehab into so I can get immediately ahead on equity would probably be ideal. Wouldn't be opposed to flipping opportunistically if I happened to get lucky with a hot market/great offer, but plan A would be long term rentals.

Really looking to find a good way to get a first property under my belt and learn a lot without risking too much capital.

The wrinkle is that I live in Bay Area CA. Most houses and duplexes here do not seem to be priced to cash flow from my back of envelope math. Plus, prices are high enough that, while I could afford one, it would be a bigger swing than I'd want to take for my first one, allowing for rookie mistakes and etc. If it didn't go well, it would potentially hit me a lot harder than I'd like it to.

The alternative might be to look out of state, but I haven't really found any good advice about that. Seems like I'd be a little bit at the mercy of contractors/vendors/and potentially sketchy property management people, although I'm sure some people have made it work.

To anyone thinking about responding, I'm looking for:

-advice on that in state/out of state dilemna

-suggestions for how to spend the next 100 hours of learning

-and really any advice you might have!!  I'm an open book.

Cheers,

Chris

Edit: About me - I'm a longevity doctor (MD), very much health obsessed.  Relatively new to the Bay Area and very open to Bay Area connections whether actionable or not.

Welcome Chris! I was a pharmacist/ business owner in the outpatient setting, trained in CVICU. You are spot on with the Bay Area properties not being able to cash flow, unless you get into large multi-units or doing STR/ MTR. Personally, I invest out of state, and a few of my colleagues do STR near Yosemite/ Tahoe areas. Happy to connect and share more about my experience!