Where to form my LLC (CA resident buying out of state)

[Ryan Summers]

I live in California, and am looking to purchase my first rental property in Illinois. I want to form an LLC for it to protect myself, and have been reading about how California residents have very specific laws compared to other states. I was hoping to see what other people have found success doing who are in the same situation, as from what I'm reading, there can be few different ways to handle it. I would definitely rather not pay the wild yearly fee for "doing business" in CA!