Profitable and Affordable Buy and Hold Markets in California?

[Anne Chiramberro]

Hi, Bigger Pockets people!

I'm new to investing and posting on the forums (even though I've been reading BP for two years). This year I want to work on investing in my first buy and hold property. 

Since much of California real estate is super expensive and I'm a little too new and anxious to invest out-of-state, I want to know where my California investors have been successful. I'm looking for a market that has small multi-families in the $400-$600K range, preferably within a three-hour drive of the San Francisco Bay Area. 

Fresno? Bakersfield? Modesto? Sacramento?

Any suggestion on where to start my research would be much appreciated! I'm just getting started, so I want to be sure I focus my time and energy on a good market.