My husband and I own 3 investment properties and looking to expand to more multifamily units in Martinez, Concord, possibly Oakland, Richmond and Pittsburgh area.I am working FT in the high tech industry like most people in Silicon Valley.

We used to do this in Silicon valley Palo Alto in the mid to late 80's when RE spiked for the first time.you needed 20% down in those days and will prices going north of 300 to 400k back in the mid to late 80s in Palo Alto Cupertino etc.. it was common for a partnership on SFR;sthe one living in the home got the loan and paid the payments etc.the equity partner provided capital ( downpayment) it was for 5 years.. house was then sold and equity split.. 

The workmanship on the trim boards--yikes; the just don't give a #### big space at one end and the what appears to be black bathroom (possibly non-paintable silicone at the other end, and a quarter round abutting the mis-sized piece.This certainly does not live up to may standards, but I have seem similar in run down class C SFH's, in Texas.Supervise your workers and be specific about the type of workmanship you want and the parts you want used...Just replace the trim boards, can sometimes get you this cheapy looking result (no excuse for using that mis-cut piece though or the black silcone looking stuff).And the darker grey wall appears crooked(???)

For example, silicon valley.Yes, the jobs there pay more.. but when it costs several million to get the kind of house I'm used to picking up for under 500 here, those jobs are actually a step down.

A real estate agent us not the term "house hacking "--An Oakland real estate agent is being called out for putting a Silicon Valley spin on one of his listings."

It's already happening in the Silicon Valley - because prices are so high. 

We live in Silicon Valley, so there's no shortage of wealthy people...but the ones we know don't "get" real estate...the search continues though!

Austin currently houses offices for Apple, Paypal, Electronic Arts, Google, Intel, Dell Computer, IBM, National Instruments, Xerox, Silicon Labs, Applied Materials, Rackspace, Yodle, HomeAway and many smaller start-ups.  

If you like silicon valley - buy a duplex or triplex here -  Santa Clara, nicer areas of San Jose, campbell, cambrian.  

I personally  ( but of course I was raised and lived in the Silicon valley) have always owned a home since I was 18 and it was by far the best thing I ever did.. it set up my entire life...