I'm not really an investor, but do own one single-family house in a great inner east-side neighborhood that was my primary residence - I now rent it out and receive some positive cash flow.  

It looks like Berkeley has some new rules about it but does anyone know how strict they are that it "Must be your primary residence?" 

We have a primary residence at this time only.

I believe the tax is waived if the buyer uses the house for a primary residency.

This is my first thread on BP as I've been spending the majority of my time researching and reading on the forums, however I do have 1 quick question i was hoping you all could help me with.I intend to use a HELOC on my primary residence for my first rental purchase and through my research i've learned that banks like to see funds in a bank account for a certain period of time, before they are willing to accept those funds as a viable down payment for a loan on an investment property.This is interesting to me, because the obvious goal with a HELOC is not to use those funds until the last minute, since you are paying interest on them. 

Our primary focus right now is paying down debt, both personal and business.  

I just moved down here about 6 months ago (right after Harvey) and I'm currently looking for a new primary residence.

Unless it is primary residence i would not advise to buy property in SF bay area.

For the down payment I can sell stocks and pay cap gains, (which I don't really want to do) or cash out refi our 1) primary or 2) long term rental (or 3) Both).

@Louis Vaughn Hey Louis, What we used to buy our first MF building was a traditional FHA 30-year amortized loan, as the 3.5% would certainly help you as this is your first time.