Double your money on your 60% left over. 

I tracked it and heard from the property manager they may take $1.3mil, but they didn't even flinch at $1.2mil cash, and we got it done. 

For me it’s been a blessing and money well spent.

If you don’t want to spend money I’m pretty sure you could get someone to grade the surrounding dirt and add some gutters for your $5k discount and gain you will have added value and come out ahead.

I'm having a very hard time with them and on the verge of losing my earnest money on a house purchased to flip.

I'd bet on Austin over 30 years, but again, not necessarily relative to SFO. 

They are for holding that property only - that money IS your cash flow. 

Co-living I like a bit more because you have less money needed for furnishing a property and CO laws allow it in the major cities unlike STRs.

So, there is even more risk.The things that you can do, include being properly capitalized, not be greedy, (in whichever way that may be defined in the county you are buying), know solicitation laws, know Dodd-Frank, the Consumer Protection Act, the S.A.F.E.

Your best/safest bet would be a regular lease combined with an option to purchase.