Unless the beginner has a good solid business background and understands the effects of location, complimetary businesses, competitive businesses, legal issues, zoning issues, traffic patterns, RE management concerns and I could go on, anyone that just looks at a commercial deal as an income stream is very uninformed.

My offer has been verbally accepted and should be signed in a few days.I also looked at Lyon and some coastal areas in the south based on my vacation destinations :-) but they wouldn't cash flow as well so I want to start with setting up a cash flow stream and then buy where I'd like to retire...There is quite a lot I can share depending on what you or others are interested in.

Currently I put my money to use in many ways as the owner of a Real Estate Brokerage, PM company, construction company, MLM company, Laundromat, Insurance company & many investments including an entirely new set of income streams coming next month with my pending purchase on a Motel & two vending machines. 

It's the best way to get that steady stream of income you're looking for!

I recently read Set for Life and am trying to use real estate to provide a passive income stream.

Went off the advice of a few senior military officers and my old economics professor suggested Brandon Turner's book... which led me to the podcast...which eventually led me here.Long terms goals include financial independence by age 45 and while Real Estate is just a component of the bigger goal, for me, at this point, I would like to maximize my opportunities to buy and hold a few properties that can potentially become streams of passive income to supplement my larger portfolio down the road and have been working for about 4-5 years to put myself in a position to do that. 

Sign the LLC, close the deal, transfer the land, complete entitlements, complete working drawings, pull permits, build, lease, season the rental stream.5.

And secondly does anyone have any recommendations for a lender that will do a HELOC on a rental property that isn’t backed by Fannie Mae and is willing to do a little work to understand my income stream?  

Doing coaching on the side keeps their skills sharp and is a pretty easy way for them to create another income stream.

@Jonathan Pflueger - If you are curious about who buys turnkey MFH in the Bay Area, go to those open houses for new listings of rehabbed MFH and if the building is priced well, you'll see the amount of people streaming in to tour a gorgeous updated unit with market rents.