Invest in Bay Area California? Just starting Out

[Adriana V Alvarado]

Hi everyone, I am just starting out in real estate investing. I would like to know what makes a good deal in the Bay Area, California (like in SF where I will be working) and how much money do I need to save to make the deal worthwhile? Should I start with a condo (about $400K for a studio/one bedroom) since that would be less than a single family home (800K+)? Even with house hacking with a lower down payment (which I am not sure would work if I get a studio size condo), I would still need to pay more out of pocket than what I would pay renting (I can get rent by splitting a studio with a friend for about $1200/month). Has anyone bought an investment property in the California Bay Area recently that could help strategize any ideas on how to move forward? Thank you!