Real life example of a good deal in Bay Area

[Perry Z.]

I know it's a million dollar question, but could one show a real-life example of a good deal in the bay area? 

The reason I am asking is that I've been scourging redfin and zillow for Bay Area properties and I cannot find any. I am learning how to analyze properties, but I got discouraged because the examples in the books are "too good to be true."

So I challenge anyone here to show me a real-life example (please includes a redfin link) of a property that's a good rental income property (multi-unit, SFH, etc) that you bought in later half of 2015.

[Arlen Chou]

@Perry Z. your question is to generic for the Bay Area.  You need to analyze deals not just by the numbers but also by your own personal strengths and weaknesses.  @juandiaz just had a great meet up at a property he bought in Oakland and his plan to sell the property for double his purchase price!  This property is in the HOT Temescal area of Oakland 2 blocks to BART! No way, I could do what he did on that property, because he has an "unfair advantage" in his specific market niche.  I would have looked at that property and not seen the "value" he did, because my plan, resources and skill would not allow me to pull the profit levels that he can.  @Amit M. sees value in buildings in SF, because of his specific "unfair advantage".  He is able to buy buildings and convert them into condo's in a way that I could not do with the same profit margins/goals.  @Account Closed does multifamily buildings in San Jose in a way that I cannot do, again because he has an "unfair advantage" that most investors do not have.  @J.M. is doing wonderful work with properties in the East Bay and also with short term rentals.  What I have seen is that people in the Bay Area who are blowing things up all have identified their own "unfair advantage" in a specific niche and look for properties that fit that specific business plan.  Figure out your own unfair advantage first, and then envision the value in properties that others do not or cannot see and then you will find "deals".  I am currently looking at a small multifamily in the Oakland Fruitvale area that I can do some serious value add improvements that will drive me over the 1% on rents and potentially increase the value of the property substantially allowing me to pull my money out within a year.  

If you use generic rules found on BP, in the Bay Area, the numbers will drive you to look farther and farther outside of the Bay Area and into less desirable areas.  Find your unfair advantage first and the deals will become easier to find.

-Arlen