The average person could not afford the average property in California in 2006, without the help of crazy stated-income or negative amortization loans. Of course, those loans would inevitably adjust and the borrower wouldn’t be able to afford the higher payment. 
At that time, I advised a woman who owned 3 properties in Stockton to sell and exchange those homes for properties in Dallas, Texas. Dallas real estate was actually undervalued by 26% at the time. In fact, salaries were increasing much faster than home prices, unlike California.
She listened to me, and sold each Stockton property for about $420,000 and was able to exchange them for 9 cash flow homes in Dallas.
She had been receiving $1200 rent on the California properties and was elated to discover she could get the same rent on her new properties, and effectively triple her monthly income! This gave her the extra income she needed to retire.
Keep in mind that the California properties were old, in high-crime areas and in need of repair. The Dallas properties were brand new, in middle class neighborhoods near high-paying jobs and good schools.
Just a few years later when the credit crisis hit, the Stockton properties she sold were worth about $100,000 each. Instead of losing 1/4th her net worth, she tripled her monthly income and saved her nest egg.
Real Wealth Network has been helping thousands of investors nationwide understand market cycles in order to avert disaster and build sustainable wealth
Reading REAL success Books from real estate investors that helped me:
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The Book on Rental Property Investing: How to Create Wealth and Passive Income Through Intelligent Buy & Hold Real Estate Investing!
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The Millionaire Real Estate Agent: It's Not About the Money...It's About Being the Best You Can Be!
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The Million Dollar Real Estate Team: How I Went from Zero to Earning $1 Million After Expenses in Three Years
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