Continuous improvement is key to long-term success.Please feel free to DM me if you want to discuss further and potentially get your investing started!

My thoughts: East Bay:- Close to a BART station to traveling medical worker/corporate person could hop on a bus/BART to work: El Cerrito, San Leandro, Hayward, Fremont, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Concord, Dublin, Pleasanton- Maybe Richmond, Antioch and Pittsburg but some parts have a lot of crime. - Going further out Brentwood and Oakley have appreciated quite a bit and have pretty good schools- Something with potential to add value: ADU attached to the main house or separately in the backyard in the future to get additional rent.

You might want to explore STR tax strategy if you are finding that the long-term rental tax strategy isn't working for your personal situation...

Some of its emotional and they feel real cool and successful being in Class AB communities with decent tenants.

I use a broker, they do the leg work and since their interest is in my success, as opposed to an insurance sales person who's only interest is making commissions.

The rationale being you are reducing your personal housing costs as the rented unit will be covering some of the costs. 

Your personal assets are protected with a viel, which can be pierced under certain circumstances.

(And best case it was a rental for 17 years then a primary for 3, making only 15% possibly eligible.)Personally, if you and he are both 100% sure of the facts I would first reach out to a qualified intermediary (a person who handles 1031’s).

Please feel free to reach out to me directly.

Feeling intimidated by the real estate market these days?