My name is Matt Payne and I'm a real estate agent in New York City.While my primary focus right now is the sales and rental market, that ties in nicely with my interest in investing as my company has a large property management and investment portfolio, primarily in Harlem and all over the west side of Manhattan.

Some of the submarkets are going to die in Chicago because of taxes, but when one compares housing costs in Chicago to the coasts, it's a pittance. 

I love the Central Coast and all it has to offer.

Having built up a decent-sized nest egg, I have been ingesting as much real estate knowledge as possible over the past six months, with my eye on either buying a home in the NoVA-area to live in or a home in TX to rent.I've also thought about becoming a realtor here on the East Coast, but it would be a huge step back in terms of security and income for the first few years.

. ;) btw, I saw someone from the east coast on a bay area forum who was trying to buy property - specifically in Hercules - to my surprise.

And close to Emeryville, the beautiful younger sister to West Oakland's red-headed step-child status (no offense to red-heads!)

I'm more familiar with the West Oakland, Lake Merritt/Downtown, and North Oakland areas.

Irvine is the west coast mortgage headquarters, so you'll be well served.Let us know what you're trying to accomplish and we'll help the best we can.

I spent 24 months in combat as an infantry officer and did another deployment to West Africa in a specialized unit.

My name is Lisa and I currently live in the West Loop area of Chicago and work as an interior designer.