I just think the rents are low enough to get a whole apartment outside the in demand areas that you'd have a tough time with getting quality tenants wanting to rent a room over just renting a studio or 1BR apartment. 

I considered SFH where I'd rent out all the rooms and keep one to myself, but this seems risky since I'll realistically be away for months at a time and couldn't manage the unit/other tenants.Then I came across some listings that appear to be hotel rooms for sale, with basically the facilities I need (a bed, toilet, kitchen), a price point I can handle (270-500k$, I'd do 20% down), and fairly high HOAs (~1500$/m?).

It sounds a bit high imo but it really depends how much work he/she is doing.

Is Tracy hills an easy commute from major high paying jobs?

In areas like this, you want to buy starter homes in the suburbs that are high 200s, low 300s that need a little help.

Quality?

He also gets to enjoy California's low property taxes and high appreciation which has worked well for him. 

First I want to say that multifamily was on a cycle high 5 years ago.

The highly effective path to accumulating wealth in rapid time is the same, unhyped, path it’s always been:- Radically cut back on expenses by getting roommates, living in the smallest bedroom in the basement or attic for a few years, and househacking or renting cheaply.- Bike or walk to work- pack lunch and learn to cook.- Read a new business book or equivalent every week for years.- Amass liquidity as rapidly as possible.- Use that liquidity to purchase real estate or take shots at small business entreneurship.To more directly answer your question though, I think that the “live in flip” is one area that seems appealing right now, in Denver.

Soon closing on a property property cost $458k and the closing cost is really high we are doing FHA mortgage they are charging 2% of the loan plus application fee and mortgage insurance on closing for the amount of $7k and plus monthly mortgage insurance... in 2020 there was not just a thing 2% of the loan on mortgage origination loan fee!