Hello BiggerPockets! New PRO here

[Brett Reade]

Hello BiggerPockets community! I'm Brett Reade from Salinas, Ca. Ive been in the work force for 2 years now and have just started to become extremely interested in Real Estate over the past ~year. I'm particularly passionate about multi family and single family properties. 

Im currently renting, but have a good deal of money saved up. I go back and forth between wanting to buy a place for myself in CA or just continue renting and instead invest in a cheaper area of the country. Realistically, I will be living in CA for the next ~5years; however, I'm not married to the area I'm currently living. Any advice hear would be very helpful. 

Excited to learn and connect with you all!

[Remington Lyman]

Quote from @Brett Reade:

Hello BiggerPockets community! I'm Brett Reade from Salinas, Ca. Ive been in the work force for 2 years now and have just started to become extremely interested in Real Estate over the past ~year. I'm particularly passionate about multi family and single family properties. 

Im currently renting, but have a good deal of money saved up. I go back and forth between wanting to buy a place for myself in CA or just continue renting and instead invest in a cheaper area of the country. Realistically, I will be living in CA for the next ~5years; however, I'm not married to the area I'm currently living. Any advice hear would be very helpful. 

Excited to learn and connect with you all!

 I recommend doing a house hack where you are at. After you gain some experience you should start buying in a cheaper market, like Ohio. This way you can have some real estate that produces appreciation (your house hack) and diversify in a more cashflow oriented market