Buy personal house or investment property (Los Angeles area)

[Adolph Witherspoon Jr]

Hi All, hoping for your directional feedback here.

Early 40s, single/live alone, employed in technology, work from home, no debt aside from auto-loan. Sold my first personal home a year ago and moved into a luxury rental high rise temporarily while I determine my next move.

Currently - I’m losing my mind here with the smaller apt space (although gorgeous view) and more so the loud and rambunctious neighbors keeping me up some nights when I work in a very busy industry and need rest and safe outside space, which Dtla is a bit more unsafe during Covid.

Question(s):

I’d like to get back into the homeownership game so I’m not continuing to pay high rent and have nothing to speak for it - also, to have more space (ie spare room for home office and guest room, yard, etc...), BUT I’d also like to get into Realestate investing “soon”.

Should I focus on buying a home that’s a light fixer , so I can live in it and Reno to gain equity (and make it somewhat a long term flip or future rental property), THEN find an investment property, ie - mental health/sanity first...?

....or do I suck it up, stay a renter And dive into the investment property space to build a portfolio...?