College Grad in the Bay Area/San Francisco - Multifamily or Apartments!

[Robert Larue]

Hi All,

I just graduated from UC Santa Barbara last summer and have been working at Oracle in San Francisco for the last year.  I have always had a huge desire to get into real estate investing- I have been reading books and working on getting my license in my free time. I am using the corporate world as a day job until I can be a full time investor! I would like to start with multifamily units, then go into apartments and commercial. I am still in the very beginning stages of learning about this world, but I have been saving up for my first property and can't wait to get started. I'm trying to decide if I should buy in NorCal or SoCal, and if I should be living in my first property. I really want to keep living in the city, but it's tough to find affordable properties here. I don't have any debt and have a very good credit score. I am hoping to find fellow investors in the area, mentors, events, etc... Looking forward to talking with many of you soon! 

-Rob

[Amit M.]

buy 2-4 units and owner occupy. Best (and safest) way to get started in RE, plus you will learn a sh*t ton. Stay in Bay Area (best appreciation, plus you can live/work.) Now is a good time to buy too. If you can afford SF great!  If not, look at Oakland for up and coming hoods. Maybe other areas too that are commutable to oracle (if you go into peninsula.)  Don't obsess over cash flow. Buy/hold, build equity, refi, buy more. I don't recommend out of state. Many reasons. It's hard to buy here, but work hard and you can do it!  Wish I brought my first prop at 23 instead of 30. Still did well though, so shouldn't complain :)