Moving to LA, looking to buy!

[Spencer Wardwell]

Hi all, I'm a first time poster and also a first time home buyer, so please bare with me.
I'm moving to LA from New York in August, and instead of throwing an astronomical amount of money away on rent each month, I thought it'd be a good idea to buy, since I plan on living their for awhile.

I currently make around $110,000 a year with no debts and have a credit score of 800. My salary will likely change when I move, and I anticipate I'll be making around $60,000 my first year out there (which is just above the median income of LA at $56,000).
I've got enough for a $100,000 down payment, I've got at least one friend who wants to move in with me and will pay $1,500 per month (whose parents are well off and will be a guarantor), and could likely find another tenant paying the same thing. I would ideally be paying no more than $1,500 per month either, but lower would of course be fantastic.

My hope is to buy and hold for a long time, and live in the house, while renting out the remaining bedrooms. Then, once I'm ready to move out one day (likely years later), depending on the market, I expect to hold for cashflow, but may sell if it feels like a good time to do so.

I've yet to get pre-approved for a loan or find a real estate agent, but am working on those two things.

I'm just looking for any kind of advice you might have. Please!

Should I avoiding renting to a friend?
What can I afford?
What neighborhoods should I look in?
Can you recommend an agent?
Should I avoid buying in LA right now?

Literally anything helps.
Thank you!