Real estate in the Bay Area: a good investment?

No. Nor any area by the ocean.

<i>“Totally worth it if have patience. Prices in the Bay Area are outrageous; however, they’ve always been higher than most cities / areas in the US.”</i>

i like this reply from Yahoo Answers and one i would totally agree with. The bay area will ALWAYS be hot until it slips into the Pacific ocean (which is coming one day, its right on a major fault line).

the advice i would give ANYONE is that you need to RESEARCH BIG TIME especially understand how the mortgage fall out affects the area.

Fallout from the Subprime Mortgage Mess in California and What We Must Do
http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2007/12/fallout_from_th.html

excellent piece to read
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070309162111AAr4OiF&show=7
http://www.traceyrealtor.com/images/May18%202006_%20Cagan%20CYCLE%20PAPER_FINAL.pdf

other sites might be of interest
http://www.realestatebayarea.com/
http://www.burbed.com/
http://www.eastbayrealestatedirectory.com/eastbaygayfriendly.html
http://www.breakingbubble.com/
http://sanfrancisco.citysearch.com/profile/38042246/san_rafael_ca/bay_area_property_inspections_and_baymountain_environmental.html
http://www.myhomeguide.com/