And CA is extremely tenant friendly so it's not a great place for a rental. 

Having a group of friends living in an apartment complex creates a sense of community and reduces turnover.

I navigate through cities and towns, identifying areas that are both friendly and challenging for STRs.

And that my friend, is why my 1.2M is legit sitting still lol Dont want to make the wrong decision! 

Our sincerest condolences to all of those impacted, we have dozens of friends and colleagues that have directly or indirectly lost everything and several have evacuated for reprieve to our communities both north and south of the border. 

https://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/5868/52724-im-new-to-investing-how-do-i-find-an-investor-friendly-agent

I recommend you go visit a few times to network with local investors or find an investor friendly agent so you can gain local market knowledge, find off market deals and for things such as showings, picture taking or getting accurate comps.

This brings me to now, I've taken this approach and have used my own money in lending, but am also bringing in friends and family to take part in these transactions so they can earn way better returns than with CD's.

Phoenix has been a hot market for rentals recently, but consider how long-term trends, interest rates, or construction projects might impact demand.Here’s a quick story: A friend of mine bought a new-build in a suburban development a few years back.

You don’t have to be aggressive about it but maintaining friendly contact can go a long way.