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

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. 

First a cash snowball approach to build up your cash.  

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.

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.

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.

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.

I’m thinking a DSCR type of loan to where your DTI isn’t a factor but the performance of the property is.