Stay at home Mom wants to learn how to invest in rental properties

[Cassandra Boyett]

Hi, I am Casey and my husband and I live in the Antelope Valley (Palmdale) in California. We own our house and have built up some equity in it and since I am fortunate enough to be able to stay at home with our 2 little ones, I figured I should spend nap times/preschool time investing our money (real estate) but I have very little idea how to do it. 

We will be doing a cash out refinance that will be giving us about $30k to work with and I am trying to decide where I should look. We are thinking either locally (prices here are much cheaper than in LA- an hour from here), or Hot Springs, AR. We have family there so we visit that area but I have no idea where to get started. Open to looking anywhere, but I hear distance rental properties are tricky.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated!!!