Either way, I would check out the following:How to Read a Rent Roll - John Wilhoit, Jr.The Due Diligence Handbook for Commercial Real Estate - Brian HennesseyIt's a Whole New Business - Gene TrowbridgeThe Complete Guide to Buying and Selling Apartment Buildings - Steve Berges

Plus there is more supply of condos and nicer condos.I like the idea of either putting a ton down on an investment or paying cash becuase everyone says "insert bad thing here" will never happen ... until it does and your standing there being forced to take less rent while you have a fat mortgage you are having to subsidize with a regular job which is negitive cash flow.I have 40k saved now which will go towards the primary residence and then another 120k worth of raw land I can sell (estate just sold some like lots so I am pretty confident I can get at least 120k). 

Originally posted by @Gene Hacker:I am not sure LA will have "better appreciation" than other areas which are still well below the previous peak.

Kind of like the person with a fat 401K.

I would not overlook diving into your finances and trim the fat.

Check out the book "it's a whole new business" by Gene Trowbridge and also the website  SBREfunds dot com.  

pulling that trigger allows you to open many doors that the average investor hasn't done yet. you will go to these meet ups and talk to people who have been "looking for a few years' and you ask nice how many properties have you done and its a big FAT 0 but they are looking at one now lol... so you dont think i just talk and not DO!

Anybody who's in a big fat rush to move is red flag, often because they're being thrown out of their current housing.  

I must have fat-fingered something. 

Fat fingers.