Instead, a hybrid approach could be more cost-effective and aligned with your goals.Why Full-Service Property Management Might Not Be Necessary:Based on my experience, Evolve is a popular "half-service" property manager, which means they handle tasks like creating professional listings, managing dynamic pricing, guest communication, and advertising on platforms like Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com.

Go to Etsy and search for "rental property tracker," and you will find hundreds of nice spreadsheets to track 10-20 rentals, usually for under $10.Software has extremely helpful features like online payments, marketing syndication (click a button, and your property is advertised on multiple sites), electronic document review/signing, maintenance tracking, and owner reports.

I live in the SF Bay Area and have decided to buy my first single-family home.I fully acknowledge and recognize that the SF Bay Area and California (in general) may have some of the worst cash flow numbers in the entire country.I've already traveled to cheaper Midwestern states to look at real estate opportunities, but have decided to invest here in the SF Bay Area as I'm purchasing with the intention of living in it first and foremost, and then renting it out sometime in the near future when I move overseas.I'm looking for anywhere in the Greater Bay Area/Northern California region (even Sacramento & Central Valley is okay) with better than average purchase price to rent ratio, and some appreciation (if possible). 

I started advertising it at $2100 and steadily lowered it to now $1700. 

Most people wouldn't even recognize that this shower is ADA accessible it would just seem to be modern and no curb. 

It sounds weird, but you have to be careful how much you advertise so that you don't get a reputation for being "out of money", while at the same time networking with wealthy individuals/family offices/private equity.It's a little different if your approach is going to be only loaning your own capital.

If the software is not simplifying your life or making you more accurate, you shouldn't use it.Software does have extremely helpful features like online payments, marketing syndication (click a button and your property is advertised on multiple sites), electronic document review/signing, maintenance tracking, and owner reports.

These service providers recognize new investors like yourself are unable to articulate the risks they are  protecting against or how this is accomplished which leads to the upsell of complexed entity structures.

Recognizing the value before the price reflects the value is the challenge.I agree with the OP that RE investing is more challenging now than it has been in years.  

Not to be critical but  advertising wasn’t allowed.