Ultimately, you want to know the average rate, average occupied notes, and the fluctuation..

Appreciation is the icing on the cake and luckily rent doesn't fluctuate like housing values.

However, I still think that looking at investing in rental RE in the SF Bay Area makes sense given the extremely strong rental market (high rents, high quality tenants, consistent long-term income and job growth despite monthly/quarterly fluctuations).

That way the LOC balance is constantly fluctuating and should never get to 0 so that you are not paying interest on the full amount and basically you are constantly paying it back as well so that you are building credit at the same time.

Reserves fluctuate.

everything else is about the same in costs with some fluctuations in gas prices etc.. 

I think it should be more like $500+++ since the rental rates, vacancies, and repairs will fluctuate (especially in the current environment). 

I highly recommend building your portfolio a bit or at least giving yourself some time with the property you have to experience the economic fluctuations coming and the property management aspect of holding.

I want to value the property myself based on prior performance but clearly need to understand how these rate fluctuate so much.Thanks

How do the property values fluctuate in that area of the market?