Yes @Jacob Thompson There is Also a Foreclosure epidemic hitting pretty close to the downtown area, keep your eyes open on Golden Hill area also, like Account Closed says I have to agree City Heights is great to still get a deal and there is few deal to be maybe in Rolando still but prices are Growing and the 2-4 Units are limited, Try North County like Oceanside and Escondido best return on investment better Job stability my best tenants are up here.

I'm interested in accumulating wealth for the golden years because I don't trust that my pensions will be available.

If you follow these five golden rules, then you're on the right track to getting a good return on your investment.

I' m Mary and I live in Italy, I' ve been and worked in many places around the globe, I started out renovating properties, I had some collaborations with developers and since real estate is my passion, everywhere I went I was involved in some project.I have a lot of different experiences and I work now as real estate agent and as a project manager for international clients.

Thanks for the article Rich .... so many people get caught up in all the doom & gloom in the media and miss golden opportunities right in front of them!

Your agent is probably trying to push you into a deal (they work for commission, remember that golden rule).I actually bought my first property for less than what the seller wanted, all cash, no financing, closed in 7 days, well below the assessment and nearly 40 percent below average market price, rented it out and hauling in sweet money now.

Just to add, I also check out the free resources on the large brokerage websites like Marcus and Millichap, various blogs, and Globe Street for Macro and MSA analysis.

You sell = you kill the golden goose. 

Maybe just ask all your potential tenants when they arrive for their showing whether they would like to see the property with the toilet lids open or closed and you can then politely ask them to wait a moment as you go and do whatever is their preference, this would insure you're not losing that once in a lifetime golden tenant by having to guess at this.

unfortunately I have no golden advice for you for being a successful investor in the NOVA area at this point in time except to be patient and have low expectations.