This is probably the big unknown keeping me from leaping into the market.FWIW, i'm in Northern California, specifically the East Bay, and looking at the Concord/Martinez/Pleasant Hill markets as well as in the Tracy/Manteca/Lodi/Stockton area, but I live/own in Livermore.

I am from the San Francisco bay area, where prices make buy-and-hold investing very challenging. 

Anyone out there still finding deals in the SF Bay Area?

It's more of an East Coast thing, just like cross-qualifying the buyer with another lender is more of a SoCal thing - up in the Bay Area listing agents often think it's a red flag for a buyer to be working with multiple lenders or real estate agents.

I am new to the R.E. game and looking to make some connections in SF and The Bay Area.

Last year I started my training at Dallas Bay Skypark which is there in Hixson.

I am considering house hacking (although I live in the Bay Area so it is more difficult to find a deal that works here) and/or long distance BURRR.

It is a 8 hr drive and a 1 hr flight from the bay area so super doable. 

I know in your market it can be very difficult to get properties with similar rent returns, but perhaps something in east bay etc?  

Here in the Bay Area for example listing price is a garbage data point since everyone lists on the low end to solicit multiple bids.