Is there anyone else in expensive markets like Oakland, San Jose, San Francisco, Manhattan / NYC, San Diego, or Los Angeles that is using the stock market to grow their cash as they stock pile it to deploy on future real estate purchases?

@Max Petrov - hi max, yes, I created a course around PF.  

You may be priced out of Manhattan- but how about nearby in Jersey?

Would love some recommendations.Thanks  I've started looking for a 5 or 6 bedroom cabin in PF and I'm not seeing any that have been $300/sqft.

@Jerry Padilla I currently live in Manhattan per my job.

Sure, there are shady parts but no more than one would find in pockets of Manhattan.

Prices have gone up but it's still makes sense to get in, rents have been rising steady and there is nice housing stock, I keep my eyes on the JH market and houses are taking longer to sell, I like North Western Queens long term potential, lots of new people buying from Manhattan.

Ah let me be clear, I meant to say an hour away from say, central downtown Manhattan where most people work, which would put me in the outer boroughs, except for south Bronx, west brooklyn, and LIC.I was looking at Bronx, but open to JC Yonkers and Newark but at that point there are too many areas to look at.

I have since relocated from Manhattan, tested for and received my master plumber’s license here in the city of Newburgh as well as the five boroughs along with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and I have thrown down my roots firmly and permanently in Newburgh.

I remember when the upper west side of manhattan and hella kitchen were ugly and off limits.