Is that the dynamic you were thinking of?

Visually, it looked as though 50-60% of some neighborhoods were up for tax auction.

I don't know the entire dynamics of your family's situation.

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.  

:)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.

But consider rather these benchmarks to follow when judging a given neighborhood.What I like to look at are the visual tangibles and emotional apsects of what appeals or doesnt unappeal to your senses. 1) Neighborhood Infasctructure: What are the condition of the streets and sidewalks.