As is regularly discussed on the boards, 80/20 comes into play.  

How do I complete my profile to get the "I'm on Board" Award? 

dl=0  Previous property owner was in an estate (the tenants parents died), the tenant is living there now and my realtor and I spoke with him and he's agreed to move out (cash for keys) in ~2 weeks- figured this was more optimal than having him potentially unruly, and starting an eviction process. 

The key is that when you take the money you borrower AGAINST the policy cash, not FROM it. 

Do not look for short cuts.

Also, plug into a reia or meetup group or any other like minded group of people. market market market and network. these are the key to re investing. if i can be of help, please reach out.Happy investing!

Furnished rentals work well in studios especially and can net substantially higher rent than a long term lessee (the hotel room effect).Would target key tech areas to get all the interns and other busy spots near downtown / Santana Row.

A local expert can help you shortcut this process, but ultimately you should rely on your own knowledge and not just your agent's (in case you choose the wrong agent who only sounds like they know what they're talking about.2) An agent who understands your goals: To be frank, most agents just help your everyday home buyer and seller.

The key is just to hit the pavement, or find a local partner who will do it for you, to learn which parts of the Class B-to-C areas are good and which to stay away from, because some of these areas are block-to-block. 

Build valuation models, how will you analyze properties, what are you looking for, do you know the key metrics and comps?