Crowdfunding for a beginner

[Ryan Cauzza]

     As a beginner in real estate investing I am seriously considering crowdfunding as my starting point.  I am lucky enough to have some capital to put into real estate but being in Southern California and new to investing my options are limited.  So Cal is not the ideal buy and hold area from what I have been researching.

     Obviously being a beginner I am in no position to be a flipper in a tough So Cal market with a full time job already.  I was hoping to get some users opinions on crowdfunding and the fact that it potentially offers a mulitude of deals in different areas for an investor.  

   I realize a real estate investment is only as good as the investor makes it through due diligence but if crowdfudning is anything close to the hype where would a beginner start in researching deals?

Any replies would be greatly appreciative thank you!!