Although, I do know some investors that can make it work, so if you decide to go out there get in touch with @Jake Leicht as he does a lot of investing in the area and perhaps guide you in the right direction and buy a deal from you.But honestly, Alameda and Contra Costa county right where you are both have 200-250+ Notice of Defaults (preforeclosures) EACH every month.

If you have a good agent, trust your agent, they should be a great guide and tool for you.

If you think they'll shrug you off, you'll be surprised.As you figure out the best strategy for you and what these deals look like, you can start meeting with investor-friendly agents to help guide you further and start analyzing deals. 

As you’re probably aware, navigating the zip areas can be a little tricky since it’s street to street, which is why we’ve developed a free zip code guide to help navigate the areas.

There are great people here which could guide me in the right direction and I appreciate any advice.

Your attorney and accountant can guide you through this process.7.

It's good you have a goal and using that goal to drive your decisions at each step will guide you. 

When looking for a PM, consider these criteria:1) the experience and credentials of the broker who supervises the company as well as the lead property manager2) the services they offer and how they line up with your needs and expectations3) the use of technology to make their job and yours easier 4) if they have a landlord-tenant attorney on retainer to help guide them on legal issues (not to mention the creation of lease agreement, landlord forms and notices, etc.)5) their process and policy for a) listing, b) application, c) tenant selection, d) routine inspections, e) maintenance services, f) property and tenancy update reports to you, g) lease enforcement policy, and f) move-out process.6) property owner reviews (caution: you can't always rely on Google reviews, because they may not reflect actual quality of the company, but still) 7) beneficial programs for both owner and tenant 8) a property management agreement that would indicate they know what they're doing and have the experience to know what matters in a PMA.

Both resources can help you find reputable property managers with proven track records.Additionally, my team has put together a guide with tips on how to hire the best property manager.

.- work with an experienced agent to guide and assist in identifying properties that are priced well and can cash flow.