From the numbers I've seen the past few years, it actually cost more to live in San Fransisco, San Diego and New York City than Hawaii.  

I live in San Pedro, but I am near, Lomita, Long Beach, Torrance and Los Angeles. 

I'm currently living in San Francisco, California and joined bigger pockets in hopes of starting investing in real estate.

I haven't seen rents go up so quickly in 15 years here in San Diego.  

I am very excited to make my introduction on BP as I have been lurking for a few months now, along with reading everything I can and listening to the podcasts.My situation is somewhat out of the norm as I am looking to begin my investing career not here in Iowa but actually in San Diego, closer to where my family is.  

I grew up in Monterey, lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for some time, spent 12 years during the worst times of Stockton real estate and finally moved here 3 years ago.

Could of traded in Hawaii for San Francisco, especially wrt building anything here.

I made a similar decision about San Jose, CA over 20 years ago but my situation was simpler then....1 wife and 1 car....now its 5 vehicles and 2900 Sq. ft. of accumulated stuff.  

It will turn you off on buyning propeties sans boots on the ground.Trusting people you never met who say they have turnkeys for you will only lead to heartache.  

San Antonio has a program strictly for veterans where certain properties are 25% off market value, but you have to live it for 5 years.