There’re some complications going on in Bay Area. 

@Sam hate to admit it, but i been using same model for 10 years. i purchase 2-4 unit buildings in need of work with low rents and bad management. i raise rents to market value deal with turn over and usually sell to a bay area investor who thinks we are all rookies in the valley. :)

my sister in law has a coffee shop in the Bay area just celebrated her 20th year.. 

Consider Reno, Boise, Sac, Sf baY, So CaL, Spokane, Seattle, Oregon all to be with in my reach/comfort zone as far as being able to visit easily to shop and monitor after purchase.

I have the more would have should have stories I owned a number of properties in the bay area that I bought some for under 100k and one for as low at 12k in East Palo Alto :) Oh well if I kept those I would never have found bigger pockets.. 

The Tampa Bay market as a whole is a great place to invest, but be ready for the competition.

That's high even for Bay Area.

I'm just beginning my journey in REI after reading the Ultimate Guide and was wondering what's the best way to get startedMy family and I live in the Bay Area.

Hi all,First post on BiggerPockets, but I've had an interest in real estate for about a year now.I'm moving from the bay area to Seattle for a job in downtown.

Simply by the numbers - population, size - it would be almost impossible for Birmingham to actually supplant the Bay Area.