I always check active rentals to see what the competition is currently looking like for if a rental were to go live that month too.

If you're trying to invest in SF or prime Bay Area now, you have to look for value added plays (which is what many investors are after, hence mucho competition.) 

I think you'll just generally have less competition, so your chances of landing a property are higher, but I'm not seeing any bargains due to seasonality like there used to be.

The ideal home price for you will depend on: 1) downpayment size 2) risk appetite, 3) preference for more cash flow or appreciation.Given our price points, our investors need to have 35-45K to start, on average.The typical cash-on-cash return on our properties net of loan payments, insurance, taxes, and property management fees is 6-8%.Ultimately, you can obtain financing from any lender, although we have partner lenders that can provide very competitive rates.

If you are near any industries or Hospitals it may be worth looking into MTR's as well! 

Attractive digital marketing fliers, 3d tours, professional tours, rent specials, and competitive pricing all help too!

@Jake Andronico A reverse 1031 exchange allows you to buy a replacement property before selling your relinquished property, offering flexibility in competitive markets and deferring capital gains taxes.

In my area cap rates are getting better because there is less competition, lower prices and rents are still the same/rising. 

Hi Kevin,Great question... finding the right property management (PM) company can make or break your investment strategy, especially in Orange County (OC), where the market is both competitive and unique.

Sometimes when placing an offer --  the POS is not yet available - and when you place an offer you can make your offer contingent upon approval of these items... although in order to have a competitive offer in this seller's market you are basically forced to "assume" the pos violations once they become available (usually 2-3 weeks after it's been ordered) -- you should be able to tell if anything more serious might come up on the POS via your own personal inspection.