Also, these options near the Bay area are increasingly rare.Beyond that, I think you look at communities with the magic combination of decent prices, job & population growth, and a reasonable (and trending reasonable) regulatory environment.

@Josh Howard Now, that is the magic question!

I'm seen stagers work magic. 

Tore off every closet door, kicked holes in the walls, ripped towel racks off the walls, cut holes in screens, flooded out the laundry room, left pink magic marker all over the carpet in the downstairs family room, stole two new rugs. 

Real estate at the small investor level is pretty easy to learn, but the gurus play on those that want it now, quick, no real learning required in 3 or 4 steps, that isn't real estate, more like magic or witchcraft and folklore for a wheeler dealer. :)

Grease also just magically appears in the drains!  

The magic number of total credit cards to open appears to be 4 or 5.

My magic number this time was 19.Don

There is no magic.

There is not magic formula.