I owned 1 property previously in San Francisco, which I lived in and rented out an illegal inlaw.  

I live in San Diego area but I'll be moving with my family to the San Francisco area this summer.

I had an uncle who built many of the Holiday Inns across the country, he also did the Hemisfair Tower in San Antonio.Real estate speculators, professionals, do very well, those that do don't buy and hope like most do, they buy and then cause the value to increase through political, social and business methods.Carol Jones began dirt poor, I mean Oklahoma dirt poor and built a nationally recognized real estate brokerage through not much more than knowledge and determination, a master motivator, her operations far exceed your expectations, so does Patrick Murney, and Judy Huntsman with Caldwell, all started here.Our Congressman, Billy Long (R) was an auctioneer and broker,  he's doing fine.

I am attending my first REIA meeting today in San Antonio and I have heard that there is a way to prepare for it...Are there certain questions I should ask since this is my first time attending?

I recently moved down to San Diego and am currently interested in rehabbing properties in the East County area.

Nope, I live in San Diego and all my buy and hold properties are out of state.

I am a young professional living in San Francisco, but I would strongly prefer to buy my first property somewhere other than the Bay Area.

., in San Carlos (near San Francisco) CA:

Come on over and say hi :) http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/86/topics/102248-san-francisco-meet-up

in san diego, these sized homes would go for $6k rent at least.I saw one with a 3 car garage. some of these are absolutely beautiful homes.