And, at that time and place, it would arguably be silly NOT to do so. 100%.This post was biased towards San Francisco, and California more general to include Los Angeles and San Diego, today in 2024.

True, but (a) they were typically experienced investors, and (b) today's market includes record prices and high mortgage rates, which is a double whammy. 

Purchase price: $85,000 Cash invested: $33,000 Cash flow is after all expenses including vacancy, maintenance, and capx deductions.

I agree with the others here that say you need to have some skin in the game, if you are going to live there yourself, get an FHA loan rather than owner financing, you can get a 3.5% down loan, personally I do not love these as they require  PMI which is an additional expense, and you also need  bring additional funds for closing at least for taxes, title, attorney and transfer fees . borrowing from anyone else for the down payment, to include a personal loan from the bank is not a good idea, those again will be higher int. rate.

They host regular meetups, workshops, and networking events that attract investors across all levels, including those focusing on multi-family and commercial properties.

Just make sure you have all the required permits, including alcohol.

However, I noticed that as a Costco member, they also offer HVAC services, including the same product line (Lennox), along with a 10% Costco Shop Card if you go through them.Has anyone here used Costco for their HVAC needs?

As a Mexican realtor, I’ve worked with clients alongside an accountant to simplify the process, including setting up the necessary bank account for rental income.Let me know if you'd like more guidance!

One approach that I have not seen included in the discussion is as you are still in the planning phase, you could change your approach and the facts to make it more favorable for your strategy.

Treat this property as a business and factor in all the associated expenses, including mortgage payments (if you pull a loan), maintenance, and potential vacancy periods.To simplify management and make this less of a hands-on job, I’d strongly recommend working with a property management company.