Bay Area Investing - Where Do I Begin?

[Alessandra Zandi]

Hey BP, 

I'm tired of letting my savings collect dust and depreciate, but I don't know where to get started. I am located in the Bay Area and looking to invest a small portion of my earnings in real estate to get my feet wet. How do I identify the areas in which I will get the best return on investment? What are some good ways to invest for first timers (rental, commercial, etc.)?

AZ