You want to maximize your tax savings.

Investing in CA will maximize your equity/loan pay down (vs cheap properties out of state), maximize the total value of your treasured fannie/freddie loans, save you travel expenses, leverage your money to higher appreciation, low property taxes (as a ratio), and low insurance rates (as a ratio).There is no rule that you have to invest only for appreciation or only for cash flow.

Not having your own savings is a symptom of a much larger issue than how to maximize the delta of leveraged funds from your own house.

@Abhinav Garg renting to students is a great way to maximize your rental monthly income but it does come with a cost.

Landlords should operate as a business to maximize their return and limit liability, but the business is still customer service.

Hi @Chris Mason narrowing down an strategy is exactly what I'm trying to do that's why I need to gain more knowledge about this subject, I'm a very analytical person and just like playing chess I like to analyze all the scenarios, always thinking 1,2,3,4,5 steps ahead then set up all my pieces  in place and then go for the checkmate (In this case landing a good deal, lowering my risks and maximizing the profit or cash on cash ROI). 

Maximize space while it is convenient.

Your cash flow isn’t bad, work on maximizing that, save up, then buy the next one.

If management company and HOA board is suppose to maximize cashflow, appreciation, and value, they are certainly no doing this and should resign.Terry

In truth the units (all 2/1) I have an average of $3,250 updates to each unit required to maximize rents.