I looked at the crime map and it shows that while violent crimes do exist in those neighborhoods, they pale in comparison to some other neighborhoods.

Yes, we have stocks and Index funds but they are just numbers on a ledger we get every month, and the returns pale compared to what we make as land lords.

Quote from @Michael Paling: I'd always planned on my first investment to be house hacking a duplex.

@Michael Paling thank you for your response.

Quote from @Michael Paling: I'm sure that my advice will vary depending on everyone's location but give your Housing Authority a call.

Installing submeter on the "back end" of the unit #1 is very easy and pales in comparison of the cost of SD water utility installing it for you as a separate meter. 

A $15,000 income while you are in school pales to a full time job making 4 to 10 times that after you graduate hopefully!

Most units only make sense between $40k-$60k/unit.  100% agreed, when I run my numbers of what's regularly advertised at a nice 10% cap rate on the MLS descriptions, it ends up coming up at a pale 7% almost all the

@Christopher Pearson BiggerPockets and REIA meetings and books can provide a good foundation, but in my mind, they pale in comparison to a good coach. 

While the barrier to entry in Stockton is less, the rents and appreciation pale in comparison to Sacramento.