Hiring Subcontractors or Trades people from other Counties?

[Gi'angelo Bautista]

Hi, I was wondering if you all have problems with hiring trades people from other counties? I'm looking at hiring electricians and plumbers.  Some of my houses are in high priced areas and the cheaper labor are in the medium to low areas so naturally I want to hire the cheaper guy.  

For some context, my houses are in Marin county ($1,000,000+) in the Bay Area and I want to hire people from Alameda county. Both counties are right next to each other. 

I already had trouble with hiring Stockton (1 hour and a half away) contractors with my properties because there is some kind of learning curve for them, but I was thinking that Alameda county might be a better bet.  

What are you all's experience? Any advice would help because managing contractors is causing me so much frustration.