Investing locally in the Bay Area will come with higher acquisition costs, but appreciation can still build wealth long term, so don't be weary if you're property doesn't cash flow right now the bat.

.- The asset management is too expensive- The management required the LTV to be lower than 50-60 percent otherwise they don't even talk to you :)The concept is great in paper but doesn't work unless you have large equity and expensive assets.

We hope to create a win-win-win scenario for all involved and it's always a learning lesson when that doesn't happen. 

- what if one tenant doesn't have enough space in the refrigerator?

If one or more units are vacant, the remaining units often don’t provide enough cash flow to cover expenses, making it harder to meet operating costs.Maintenance costs: A fourplex comes with four times the appliances, plumbing, HVAC systems, and other components to maintain, leading to significantly higher repair and maintenance expenses than single-family homes.If you want to see the detailed calculation, read this BP blog - More Units Doesn’t Mean More Money—Why a Single-Family Home Can Beat a Fourplex.Resale value: Multi-family properties have a limited buyer pool—mainly investors—who base their offers on CAP rates.

Whether it is the equity of your own home or the home you are financing, it doesn't really matter.

I've considered a property management company, but the cost just doesn't seem worth it although it would be convenient.

Typically when you see "cash only" the agent doesn't believe the property can pass a home inspection which isn't relevant for construction loans in most instances and there are plenty of banks, hard money lenders etc. who offer construction financing on distressed buildings.

"I'm willing to cancel the eviction so it doesn't reflect on your record if you vacate on x day and pay x toward your outstanding balance"Most tenants are unaware of the long-term consequences when they have an eviction on their record.

I've also heard about rolling over some money into a self directed IRA to invest in real estate, but that doesn't really solve my problem.