And what is your price point and are you looking for turn-key properties or something along the lines of a "fixer upper"?

I've never seen a turn-key property in the Bay Area where you will cash flow positive in any meaningful way.  

Connecting with local real estate agents, property managers, and contractors can provide insights into market trends and help streamline project management.

.)- If use the property more than 15 days or 10% of the time it becomes a residenceI suspect this is part of why the STR trend has picked up so greatly amongst professionals working in tech.

However, sellers currently on the market are more likely to accept lower offers, giving us some room for negotiation.Rental Market TrendsThe charts below are only relevant to the property profile that we target.Rentals - Median $/SF by MonthRents held steady from September to October, bucking the seasonal trend.

•Are there specific trends or tenant preferences in El Cajon that I should consider?

Keeping the communication open is key.

You can test that side of it out to see if it's a good fit for you, but take some time to find which side is the right fit for you because that will be a key to achieving long-term success.Also build as many sponsor relationships as you can in the beginning because that'll give you plenty of options when you find a deal. 

Next step - DON’T overlook key inspection items: sewer scope and radon testing.✅ Radon is a radioactive gas that is released from granite into the soil that is known to cause cancer, and can leach right into your home.✅ Any home built before 1980, likely has cast iron or clay sewer lines which will deteriorate over time.These issues can be avoided.

However a key to that is that you need to bomb several times due to the lengthy life cycle of the fleas once they get inside.