The county websites tend to be really bad at this, but that varies a lot by county, and there are 3,142 of them, with no great list of which are good and which aren't - so just go look.

From some info I've found, I suspect that the borrower is renting out, not owner-occupying the home, and at this rate, I expect they should have good positive cash flow each month. 

Its been a crazy semester and I recently got a position with Yardi systems.

I recently had a client in this same position.

You can check the market reports here at this website to make your own opinion. https://www.bayareamarketreports.com/

This website and whole BP community is truly amazing- I've learned an incredible amount from thousands of hours spent listening to podcasts, reading posts, and audiobooks over the past few years.

Which UCC form do I need to file in order to get first position on the property?

It puts me in a much stronger position if any legal challenge ever arises, though some might argue that it's overkill.

Should I be in first lien position?

Some surprises I've had in this area:Sheriff kicked door down in one house b/c they had a warrant from a previous tenantFound a gun in one house (ended up being a BB gun but looked like a 357 revolver)Had tenants leave the house, left all their stuff, and never heard from them again, after living there for only a few monthsHad a water leak in a ceiling that flooded my garage and damaged ceiling in dining areaOn the positive side, have provide safe, affordable, clean housing for some great people.