Out of State Investing

[Jonathan Lowe]

Hey everybody! I am new to the forums here, but have been listening to bigger pockets podcasts for a few years and have read a couple of David's and Brandon's books. I am 22, just graduated from college and am moving to San Diego to start work, however I am reluctant to make this move as I am aware that SoCal is not a great market for REI. I have been doing research on real estate investing for the past 2 years and know it is something that I want to do, or at least try, but this job offer was too good to pass up. Through research, I have really only heard negative things and horror stories about OOS investing (dealing with property managers and finding a trustworthy team). My initial financial plan was to buy a duplex wherever it was I moved to and live in one side and rent out the other but this wont be possible in SD. For someone who is looking to purchase their first MFH, is it worth all the headaches to invest OOS? There are still many things that I do not fully understand about REI and I don't want to get taken advantage of by being a "California investor". BTW I ordered David's book on OOS investing and will read that soon, but I'd like to know what the bigger pockets community thinks.