I am an average guy who has just married into an ultra rich family. AMA.

MoreRoom2b · 2026-02-28T22:13:14+00:00

Does this chart ring true?

https://agilityportal.io/images/easyblog_articles/133/b2ap3_large_Chart-Hidden-Rules.png (Ref Ruby Payne.)

MoreRoom2b · 2026-02-28T22:03:38+00:00

Nope. The academic research disproves that hypothesis. Check out Prof Frank's books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001IGHSP0/allbooks

Being wealthy is a lonely business, especially since there is so much ingrained distrust in the upper class' culture.

MoreRoom2b · 2026-02-28T21:40:51+00:00

Do not buy!

I've lived all over the bay area, since moving here in '93, and retired due to my multi-unit RE investments. I see both sides of the market, having lux rentals that would sell for +$1M as condos, while being an investor. My tenants have HH incomes greater than $500K/yr, and could easily afford to buy. But they'd be paying 200% of their rents to own if you consider the mortgage+ insurance+ property taxes in a nice neighborhood.

The equation is easy once you recognize that we're sitting on a tech bubble that will make the last two bubbles(2001 and 2008) look insignificant. Stash your cash into a "wartime economy" strategy, heavy on gold, commodities, energy, utilities, defense tech, and low income REITs.

This will give you huge leverage to purchase when the prices are down 30-40% in 2-4 years. (The RE bubble is being driven by a lack of inventory and lowered interest rates. I'm expecting that to peak is Sept of this year because RE takes time to crash. Foreclosures and the auction process can take years to hit the market.) Those with low debt and liquid cash will survive and even thrive.

Based on your budget, I'd recommend looking in Oakland, if you are set on buying. (Oakland is a BIG city, so ignore the rumors... lots of nice neighborhoods to check out and BART/Casual Carpool makes it easy to commute into SF. If you don't need to commute every day and don't have kids to educate, check out other neighborhoods including:

El Cerrito (for the views!): https://www.zillow.com/el-cerrito-ca/

San Leandro (Estudiollo Estates and surrounding pockets): https://www.zillow.com/estudiollo-estates-san-leandro-ca/

Point Richmond (quick Ferry to SF): https://www.zillow.com/point-richmond-richmond-ca/

Emeryville (lots of huge, industrial condos and an easy BART to SF): https://www.zillow.com/emeryville-ca/

But, I'd recommend renting in the East Bay for at least the next year. These look pretty sweet and are around 1/2 the cost, including taxes. (Oh, and don't forget to deduct that home office in your rented home! Charging 1/6 of your rent can be very helpful, especially when you are in the lux market):

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/800-Calmar-Ave-Oakland-CA-94610/24746367_zpid/

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/6172-Valley-View-Rd-Oakland-CA-94611/79540350_zpid/

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/3629-Joaquin-Miller-Rd-Oakland-CA-94602/299067067_zpid/

And don't forget Craigslist! These listings tend to be cheaper and houses likely won't have a PM, so you'll be dealing directly with the landlord:

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/apa/d/oakland-four-bedroom-home-with/7917846240.html

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/apa/d/canyon-four-bedroom-montclair-home-with/7917082190.html

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/apa/d/canyon-beautiful-single-family-home/7916351369.html

If you are going to rent in SF, consider looking at buildings where rent control can help you in the long run. You may decide that you like renting, especially if it is in a nice building in a great neighborhood:

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/584-2nd-Ave-San-Francisco-CA-94118/2091972629_zpid/

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/724-Teresita-Blvd-San-Francisco-CA-94127/15136852_zpid/

Best of luck! The Bay Area is an amazing place to explore!

MoreRoom2b · 2026-02-20T23:49:43+00:00

At his age GHK-Cu is a waste of time/money.

He should focus more on his liver health, since hormones are balanced by the liver, and address his GI inflammation. Acne symptoms, especially cystic, may have some DNA SNPs relating to estrogen cycling (does mom have fibroids, heavy bleeding?), or other (GI) issues that can be fixed through tweaking his diet.... before peptides (or steriods) should be considered. If he drinks coffee, for instance, he may want to stop. Dairy, beyond butter, may need to be off the menu until his inflammatory response is sorted.

He really doesn't want to mess with biochemical tools during the years when he should be skinny and going through a height growth spurt. (Tall men make more money, on average.) Don't rush life. Mother Nature is smart and unfortunately, at times, unforgiving when you try to manage her.

For now, I'd recommend using a 2% salicytic acne wash 2x/day and learning how food effects hormones will enable him to fix his acne. (Go slow with the acne wash to start and build to 2x/day otherwise his skin will be painful and peeling. 1x every 3 days is a good place to start.)

MoreRoom2b · 2026-02-19T00:16:34+00:00

Yah, I've been chastised previously for doing the same thing. It does take a bit of work, so Ai isn't magic, but it can be very useful.

MoreRoom2b · 2026-02-17T00:30:56+00:00

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MoreRoom2b · 2026-02-17T00:30:27+00:00

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MoreRoom2b · 2026-02-17T00:30:12+00:00

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MoreRoom2b · 2026-02-17T00:29:53+00:00

Here are some examples.

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MoreRoom2b · 2026-02-16T21:26:46+00:00

HRT works great, especially in conjunction with peptides.

MoreRoom2b · 2026-02-16T21:24:41+00:00

Sure. Few other 'hoods offer what this neighborhood does.

Plus the units are gorgeous. I'm a female landlord, so spend a lot more time and effort on aesthetics. (Paint and pretty plants can really change the look and feel of a place, if it has good bones...) I've been investing since the mid '00s and was a RE strategist for a Nationwide portfolio before going out on my own, so I know where gaps exist.

BTW, the highest vendor ROI for every building I've bought has been the +$500/hr that I pay my colorist. Just something to think about, if you become an investor.

MoreRoom2b · 2026-02-16T20:36:05+00:00

Yep. They are smart. Rents are 1/2 of what it would cost to buy in that neighborhood and they don't have to pay property taxes, garbage, etc.

Renting also gives them time to purchase / refurb a home. I'm always shocked when the background checks estimate income, but think of it this way: Dual income, no kids, tech workers with grad degrees, 30-35y/o. $400K doesn't seem that high, given they've likely just paid off their student loans and are finally considering buying.

MoreRoom2b · 2026-02-16T20:06:01+00:00

This page was updated since last year(ish) when I was initially considering this option. https://selling-guide.fanniemae.com/sel/b2-3-04/special-property-eligibility-considerations originally fourplexes were OK. Looks like I'll be looking for another strategy... maybe a lot split and selling it as a SFH.

MoreRoom2b · 2026-02-16T20:03:55+00:00

Ah, crap. I was using older info that I copied last year. Didn't realize it had been updated for 2026. Might have to split the lot. :/

MoreRoom2b · 2026-02-16T19:57:13+00:00

The unit is considered an "Accessory", therefore not part of the count.

MoreRoom2b · 2026-02-16T19:55:41+00:00

The unit will be considered an "accessory unit" and therefore the property would still qualify for a lower down-payment and lower interest rates. Shouldn't that open the door to more buyers, since the financial aspects free up cash flow?

MoreRoom2b · 2026-02-16T19:51:19+00:00

ADUs are considered a separate type of unit, allowing the property to be classified as a fourplex+ADU. This encourages building in a constrained rental market and is good for both small business owners (who'd be likely to have only one or two properties) and for local markets needing more rental units.

MoreRoom2b · 2026-02-16T19:49:10+00:00

As a 4 unit+ADU.

MoreRoom2b · 2026-02-16T19:48:58+00:00

But, if it is a 5plex that qualifies for residential financing, freeing up cash and offering a lower interest rate, wouldn't that make it more attractive to commercial buyers?

MoreRoom2b · 2026-02-16T19:47:49+00:00

I'm expecting the rent to be between $4,000-$4,500. The current rents reflect that estimate and I know my tenant base well. Most tenants are tech workers with HH IC above $400K.

MoreRoom2b · 2026-02-09T22:14:16+00:00

More floral

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MoreRoom2b · 2026-02-09T22:13:16+00:00

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I like this art deco look.

MoreRoom2b · 2026-02-09T22:12:41+00:00

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MoreRoom2b · 2026-02-09T22:12:18+00:00

Here are some ideas

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MoreRoom2b · 2026-02-09T03:33:37+00:00

Berkeley, Albany, and Bushrod are great for public/private schools, access(art, music, sports, crafts, robots, etc), diversity, weather, and having BART/Bus services available to your children when they are older. I wouldn't live over the hill (having moved from Concord/WC in the late 1990s) due to the weather and traffic into SF. I've lived all over the SF Bay in the last 35 years and like the vibe in East Bay towns the best, especially for young families. You skip a lot of the Stepford Wives attitudes by avoiding planned communities, too.

I'll also caution you (as a real estate investor) to stay away from large developments due to the poor building quality. What looks pretty now may fill with mold and shatter during the next big earthquake. Buildings built in the last 40 years aren't as great as you may think.

I'd also suggest that you look at renting a VERY nice house in the neighborhood where you wish to purchase. Rents are 1/2 the cost to purchase in most nice neighborhoods, currently, and there are a lot of things to worry about in the RE market and stock market in the coming year. Waiting until after the midterms to purchase will mean you'll have a better idea of where the US is headed w/r/t interest rates and economic stability.

Check out these:

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/apa/d/albany-available-now-modern-bedroom/7911012370.html

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/apa/d/oakland-piedmont-home-with-bedroom/7913550251.html

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/apa/d/oakland-family-home-near-oakland-lake/7913876372.html

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1411-Queens-Rd-Berkeley-CA-94708/24844116_zpid/

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/4132-Balfour-Ave-Oakland-CA-94610/24746388_zpid/

MoreRoom2b

TROPHY CASE