Dayton, Ohio and the Midwest have a different dynamic than the coasts and other densely populated areas.We are dominated by a lot of available land for building, and often a surplus of housing stock.

But at the end of the day everyone has their own philosophy and that is why real estate is so dynamic and people can do well either way its done.

I think a duplex dynamic is quite different.  

If you have no concerns about reading a purchase contract or the other intricate details involved in the transaction you probably don't need a realtor. 

:)I'm sure you'll be very successful either way Raquel :) Just don't drink too much Oakland or West Oakland Koolaid at the wrong price ;) @Arlen Chou has been drinking up, but at a very reasonable $/sqft and on reasonably realizable income (and with much more financial capacity, no offense), so just remember there are economic cycles, plans that don't always come to fruition, and West Oakland is certainly not immune to those dynamics IMHO...

Hi Sally- I've used Foundation Dynamics on a few of my Arlington rentals.

There are other dynamics in SF that impact RE beyond employment and interest rates.

I'm in SoCal so the dynamics are completely different here.

Once you get the gist of things you're single most important next step is fully understanding (1) property financials, cash flow, and how to estimate costs; (2) market dynamics.

Additional labor costs should be expected for any set up like cement floating or installation of hardi backer (cement board, etc) as well as additional labor costs for intricate layouts or details like metal edging or bull nosing stone.