English is my third language, I`m fluent in german, georgian, and speak a little bit of russian and french.

Money and corporations deserve more praise for peace in the world than all politicians and religious leaders combined - you'll see Americans working next to Russians and Muslims working next to Buddhists and Christians every day.  

See what's available and regs.Buying a STR in a city that is on the verge of banning/restricting them is like asking if you should try Russian Roulette.

However if you are REALLY set on house hacking in Sonoma County, there's always cheaper small multis (usually fixer uppers) near the Russian river area that go for around 4-500k.

It's in the auto repair business, where I had no experience, but the owner I'm buying it from had no prior background in it either, he was Russian immigrant who started here as a taxi driver, saved up enough to open up 3 shoe stores, but sold it all when his wife was seriously injured in a robbery.One word of advice.

I recently married with my beautiful (Russian) wife Aliya.

Speak Spanish, Russian and English.

Barring something insane like the Russian mob having a war in your neighborhood I would definitely do the rehab, get better renters, and hang on.  

They will never, ever invest in anything small town (vs suburb) unless it's an enclave of rich people because to the mainland Chinese, rural=hideous poverty.Jesus Genny, you sound exactly like my Russian wife talking about the glories of Marxist-Leninism in the Soviet Union.

If you're in the flipping business then I think there is always the game of Russian Roulette involved.