thats the bay area.. .. will your prop do that who knows.. but its only a short term gamble so you gamble 3 to 10k over a few years and see what happens.

A real simple answer, HOUSING is a GAMBLE - believe it or NOT, the Invisible STROKE of luck is at its full force when you buy:Example: hundreds of folks became millionaires who bought between 2011-2013 - TIMING - a stroke of luck - which a few calculated/researched/predicted and hence capitalized on it.There are many types of landlords - frugal/slum-lords/penny-pinchers/businessmen etc. = pick your choice!

OK would you gamble your money knowing there is a less than 1% chance of winning?

I literally felt like I was gambling in the stock market no matter how much I studied it.

Cincinnati Procter and gamble Kroger 5/3rd bank General Electric Atlanta Home Depot UPS Coca-Cola Delta Supply and Demand- Watching how much inventory, and how many renters is key to making sure you will have enough renters or buyers to keep vacancy rates down.

None of this is worth the gamble. 

Cash is king - don't gamble on appreciation.

Oh, that just reminded me of my Grandpa's land he bought in 1957ish, outside of Vegas for $257, and the family sold it for 1 mill around 2005-06.  ....Good thing Grandpa liked to gamble!   

That however is a gamble too because they don't know if the property is going to even sell much less for more. 

@Kevin Wilson Homestead is a street by street gamble for sure.