MFH Primary Residence in SoCal?

[Peter Cung]

Hi guys,

Hope you find this message well!

I am from California, but invest out-of-state. So far so good and I plan on continuing to purchase turnkey properties for cash flow purposes.

Having said that, I am looking into purchasing a primary residence for my family and I in Southern California in a year or two – specifically in Orange County (Irvine, Tustin, Mission Viejo, etc.) or San Diego (Poway, Carlsbad, etc.) County. One idea that I am entertaining is to purchase a MFH where we can live in one unit and rent out the rest.

Does anyone here on BP have a similar experience as I do and had success purchasing a multiplex as their primary residence in SoCal? My objective is to buy a home that's decent to raise a family, but can cash flow/appreciate over time. 

Very interested in understanding how you did it, whether these counties have MFH inventory (seems harder in areas with good school districts), expected price ranges, and any tips/advice you can share. Also, open to other suggestions! 

Happy to connect and PM me too if you want.

Thanks,

Peter