Look for areas that are going to generate a lot of visits year round.

*I USED to own properties in San Mateo Co CA (Silicon Valley)and found that the Building/planning dept was so malfeasant and next to impossible to work with that I sold my properties AFTER I spent YEARS trying to 1st get plans approved,** then completing the work.

What actions and/or credentials make a landlord an active property manager to deem rental income/loss active in CA?

For example, when most of my development clients started building their portfolios, they picked up properties in areas where at least 1 of 3 things was almost always present: 1) They currently or have previously lived in the area, 2) they have family or friends that attend religious services in the area, or 3) they regularly visit family or friends that live in the area.

Sebastian in Claremont CA These are photos of the condo: https://www.zillow.com/homes/991-W-Sierra-Madre-Ave-.num.2-A...And And these above are the new home (ADU) rented for $1,875 p.m  Just trying to motivate you… that’s all. 

I would go to the big bus tour events in Irvine CA. what was happening was there was a turnkey operator that was allowed to offer their product at the end of the Seminar ..

But the best course of action here is two fold: Visit your local REI groups.

good company I have used them in the Sacramento CA market as they are SF based or were when i did my deal with them..

Few people have no clue what is or how it works, I was just reading today that the cannabis growers that will be trading BILLIONS of dollars in CA, cannot deposit those funds in traditional banks, therefore; many will be using Bitcoins and other digital currency. 

When you ask such an open-ended question like where in America should I invest if not California, you open yourself up to every real estate agent telling you their market is good.