Invest out of state or local?

[Carolyn Albinder]

What would you do as a newbie with 40 grand to invest? Would you buy a primary residence in a hot socal appreciating market with an FHA (no house hack possible with this one) with the hopes of living there 2 years and using the equity built up to buy another place and airbnb/vrbo the property afterwards for cash flow ........................ or invest out of state in a lower barrier to entry market to hopefully find a good brrrr deal and scale more quickly? We would still be paying rent in Socal with scenario number 2, but I have a job where I could most likely save for a local FHA down payment of 30-40 after another year. Any advice? I greatly appreciate it!