And of course those are highly difficult locations in CA for development and building permits..

I was part-time for 6 months while working a government job (no cell phones allowed in the building). 2 rentals closed in 6 months, no sales.

I'm not looking to get rich quick but I would like to start building a portfolio to eventually get out of the "9-5 rat race".If anyone is in the Birmingham area, I would love to meet up and let me pick your brain on things. 

I had to go to zoning and spend thousands to get it legalized.Your situation seems as if it is zoned as a single family home, and it was split into 2 apartments with no building permits.He's selling the property because he has the wrong zoning, and is finding a bank or an investor who over looks the problems that will arise once they close.With the way things are with insurance, I wouldn't be surprised if your insurance company will not insure for two unitsgood luckGino

We have an 8-unit apartment building that has 4 furnished MTR units in it.

We welcome any suggestions or insights you may have.Additionally, if anyone has information on the approximate cost of building a duplex and triplex in California, we would greatly appreciate your input.To provide context, neighboring properties in the area we bought offer insights into the local housing market.

It is better for us to move the tenants out whenever we take over a building that has rents that are way under market.

In the under $400k price point I'd look at Fairfax, Alexandria (not the brick garden buildings, but newer buildings) and Springfield.

Do this for a year or two and build up more cash, and then do it again. 

Beyond that, most self storage only being 8 1/2 foot tall or so wide, a 10 x 30 or 10 x 40 storage unit can't handle RV's and boats.Recreation areas/cheaper land:  The way you beat your competition is to build closer to the Recreation areas or on routes to them, from the populations.