Scale Strategically (if this applies to your goals) Reinvest profits, use the BRRRR method (Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat), and leverage 1031 exchanges to grow your portfolio tax-efficiently.I'm a mortgage lender at Aslan Mortgage Lending and would love to find time to talk and discuss your journey.

Find local REIA's (Real Estate Investors Association), Airbnb Community Groups, or local STR Facebook groups. 

-Find some properties to work up.

There are also some hidden gems in Downtown Chandler, Mesa, and Tempe/ASU area where you can find a great deal.

If you can't find a good manager, walk away.

However, if you’re running an investment group in another market, we’re open to licensing it or finding a way to make it work for both parties.If this sounds useful, DM me or comment below, and I’d be happy to share more details!

While @Phillip Austin mentioned Raleigh is a higher returns its just very much a appreciation market, you will not find rentals that cashflow, so depending on your goals its a good or bad market.

You can shop 10 or 20 lenders in a weeks time, find out what products they offer, what rates, what overlays and qualifications they each have for you.... 

If you find any deals that don't have seller financing on them, let us know.

I've helped a lot of investors in your area, and I find that many of them end up purchasing rentals in the Central Valley for the very reason you mentioned.