The other lot is empty with terraced gardens and has mountain views. 

Also realize that your closest comps may not be pricing correctly and leaving a ton of money on the table.

Look into areas like San Mateo, Redwood City, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, and San Jose.

I have a long-term rental in STN MTN (Stone Mountain) GA, and have a one year lease with a section 8 tenant and content with the cash flow, however, I can make more if the basement gets converted to a separate unit.

During refinance, in the option of exiting, she would have to bring to the table around 36K (176K less 140K purchase price).

As far as a specific bank recommendation,  it looks like Mountain America Credit Union has a couple of branches in the surrounding area and I personally like them.  

Stunning nature with the Pacific ocean and gigantic Santa Monica Mountain Range out the door with year round near perfect weather.Close to everything from Malibu to Calabassas, Ojai, Santa Barbara etc and within the same 45 min to 1 hour distance ( traffic depending) to 3 commercial airports, namely LAX, BUR, SBA.The university, USCCI is the only one of its kind growing in leaps and bounds while general enrollment numbers are in decline everywhere else along the CA coast.

This is one of the biggest cruxs of investors, the fear of missing out or just  putting something on the table versus getting something really good.

Now suddenly the tables have turned right?

Their STR ordinance only allows STR in mountain and desert areas and does not allow it in MFR structures at all.