(2) Californians (of which I am one) continue to flee the Golden State in record numbers and can buy 2x to 3x the house here for the same money, so I don't see any price declines here soon. 

I will continue to educate myself and might even work on getting a real estate license. 

So I continue to pay tHE MoRTGAGE AS usUAL?

Found a couple realtors that had similar mindsets, networked with other investors, made offers on auctions, reo's, wholesalers, and continued to grind.   

I would like to meet up with like minded investors to continue to hone my my investing skills and look for potential partners. pleas share amy recommendations?

(Your loan was for a flip, and presumably for a business purpose, which means the San Francisco Federal Reserve bank rate also plays into this.

I'm preparing for my first local buy here, now that I've lived here for 2 years.  I am looking for a 4 or higher multi-family off the pennisula, or possibly a solid foreclosure in james island / west ashley for a shor...

There are too many possible variants to play that game.  

@Jeremy Mattson, I have missed and continue to miss good buying opportunities because of a lack of funds. 

If you are happy with the cashflow once you rent out the fourth unit, I vote HELOC and leverage for a few reasons:-You don't pay taxes on the equity you use from a HELOC-Closing costs are free-You get to keep the property and continue to appreciate.