Everyone can see how Silver Lake has changed over the last ten years, and now behind the scenes, developers are buying up every apartment building they can find. The neighborhood that was once the next big thing in Los Angeles real estate is now the world's main attraction.

I'm in a unique position because I work for a developer, but I came to the business trying to buy my first home and got locked out. Like many people I meet, income property is the only affordable way to own one's…