Attorney & CPA giving conflicting advice... help?

[Victoria Townsend]

Hi BP,

I live in California and I'm forming an LLC with another person (who also lives in California) in order to buy 5-10 rental properties (small multis) this year in Kansas & Ohio.

My CPA is telling me that I should just create LLCs in Kansas & Ohio, and that I don't need to create one in CA - thus saving me the $800/yr fee. 

My attorney is telling me that I absolutely need to create one in CA, and that the Franchise Tax Board will penalize me and I will pay more than the $800/yr. And that after I form an LLC in CA, I should just get business licenses in Kansas & Ohio whenever I buy.

It's really weird to hear such conflicting advice, so I'm hoping to hear some first hand experience from other members of BP.

How do you have your entity structured for out-of-state rentals? 

Do you just have it where YOU live in, or just where the properties are, or both?

Also, do most people just create their entities over Legalzoom?