When deciding between investing out of state vs home hacking in Oakland, keep the following in mind.Oakland House Hacking:Proximity: Living in Oakland while house hacking enables you to maintain a close proximity to San Francisco, which might prove advantageous for property management and maintaining connections with the local market.Possibility of Appreciation: Property values in the Bay Area have increased historically, which is good for accumulating equity over time.Local market dynamics, tenant preferences, and potential obstacles might be simpler to comprehend when one is in a familiar location.Demand for Rentals: Oakland has a robust rental market, and you can discover good demand for rental units if you pick the appropriate property and location.Creating Local Connections: If you live in the Bay Area, house hacking can assist you in making local contacts with property managers, real estate agents, and other investors.Investing Out of State:Investing outside of your state may be more affordable and enable you to use the same funds to buy more than one property.A few out-of-state markets can have more favorable cash flow prospects in contrast to the pricey Bay Area market.Geographic diversity, which can help reduce risks related to market-specific variations, is made possible by investing in a variety of markets.Hiring a local property management business, which offers a more hands-off approach to property management, is often necessary for out-of-state investments.Remember, both options have their advantages and challenges.

Prepare to show detailed documentation of your STR performance, but keep in mind that consistency matters, and some lenders might prefer a more extended history.

I am currently looking for a more stable job than personal training, (hours fluctuate weekly) but I don't want to keep paying rent to a landlord.

You can take a more in-depth approach, but this is how I prescreen deals as a lender. 

As the real estate landscape evolves, so too must the tools we use to navigate it, highlighting the need for a more tailored approach to professional networking.

It’s best to speak directly to a CPA that you have engaged to do work to get a more detailed response and analysis.Best of luck!

If what you an afford does not match the type of area you want to invest in, don't rush into buying and wait until you can invest in a more solid area.

Then you can read a more in-depth book like The Book On Rental Property Investing by Brandon Turner or The Unofficial Guide to Real Estate Investing by Spencer Strauss.2.

So, buried in this is a more important issue. 

Then you can read a more in-depth book like The Book On Rental Property Investing by Brandon Turner or The Unofficial Guide to Real Estate Investing by Spencer Strauss.2.