Starting Investor from San Diego

[Tony Moreno]

Living here in San Diego with no real experience in real estate, besides working for a college apartment company and leasing for them, it is very intimidating and seems impossible to start. Reading books and listening to podcast have been my two main tools of education when it comes to real estate. The forums here on BiggerPockets have also been huge in the way I look at the markets here in San Diego and also around the country. I worked at the apartment complex for about a year and that's when I realised real estate is something I want to get into. By reading books, specifically "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" which I think everyone here has probably read I really began to understand how real estate is more than just a job and it is something that creates financial freedom. Owning multi-family and renting them is what I plan on doing at the current moment. From everything I have read or heard, I think these types of properties suit me the best for my financial goals.

Still however here in San Diego based on the forums, it seems like this a very hard place to invest and also seems there is much more money in terms of cash flow in other states. So my question is does anyone have ideas or maybe something they have done to get started here in San Diego? Also how hard is it to own properties in other states that you don't live in?

I believe with my leasing background and working with tenants at the property I worked at I would be able to work as my own property manager. But again how possible is that when not in the same state?

I know these are very broad very beginner question but I'm just looking to start a forum here and hopefully get some questions answered from people who have been where I am now. If anyone has anything to add here please do so. Also, I don't know if there are any meetups here in San Diego for people interested or already in real estate I would love to go to some and meet more people. So if anyone knows of any let me know so we can meet up.