My name is Kevin Galang, and I’m currently living in the SF Bay Area, but moving to Tampa, FL in the next couple months. 

The upcharge here just because its the Bay Area.To be "worth it" is almost a personal choice. 

A friend of mine that’s a real estate broker and builder in houston Texas is in the Bay Area, downtown San Jose, California, to be specific for a few days and would like to connect with investors interested in investing in the Houston RE market.

Offer Chocolate Chip Cookies and Green Bay Packer Tickets ;)2.

Unfortunately I didn't get to the formal disclosures because when they called to get my SSN to run my credit before disclosing it, I accidentally picked up the phone and said "Bay Equity Home Loans, this is Chris," was asked to repeat what I said... then the processor cursed and hung up on me.

Great book on the subject here on BP in the book section.As an investor I feel very blessed my former job relocated me to Milwaukee, my life would have taken a very different direction back in Austria - or let's say the Bay Area for example!! 

I live in the Bay Area as well :) 

It may actually prevent some bad vibes when it comes to doing business with family.I'm in the San Francisco Bay Area but I have have rentals in Cleveland and here in the Bay Area. 

Also a good agent knows that the first offer is often the best.If you're in the SF bay area don't try this strategy!

Once in a blue moon you will see that an agent in, say, Sacramento gets a listing for a property in Oakland, doesn't think about the implications, it doesn't show up to Bay Area agents, and you can get a better deal because of the LA's screw-up.