Your life style has lead you to this situation and you must change your lifestyle in order to be successful with real estate. 

Buyers Want More Than a Pretty HouseSan Diego buyers are discerning, and they don’t just want a house that looks nice—they want one that functions well and reflects their lifestyle.

@Marie CopulHunker down and pare down your lifestyle expenses as much as possible so you can replace what you need as quickly as possible.I did have a client take down a 57 unit mixed use apartment deal that added $1.1M to his net worth and $180k a year in cash flow in 12 months but those types of results are not typical.However, some type of commercial real estate would be my suggestion and one where you are driving the ship so you keep most if not all the equity.I have some ideas for you and would be happy to talk you through them.

@Sathya Priya SampathkumarLook for markets that can fit into your lifestyle and your goals.

The decision you must make is where do you want to live from a lifestyle perspective.

What’s exciting about your journey is that NYC has so many unique opportunities—you’re not just buying a place; you’re investing in a lifestyle.

If you live paycheck to paycheck and do all this you are never going to become an investor because you aren't willing to change your lifestyle now for something you can have in a few years.  

Financial freedom goes beyond simply replacing your current income—it's about sustaining your lifestyle for life.

Quote from @Bruce Woodruff: Quote from @Stephen Birnbaum: Sure, California has problems but it also has amazing weather allowing for a healthier lifestyle.

In some of the big cities (speaking in Canada), you have people who want to live in Toronto or Vancouver, but they can't afford the rent with their lifestyle...and they don't want to move.