I can't narrow it down more than that right now because my focus is split between investment and personal property.PS: My personal property will be my own.

Once you answer those questions it will help you narrow down your choices.Best Regards, Jennifer Niez

Also so narrow.

If you can narrow your area of interest down to a few counties or towns and then just certain size or condition properties you might find it's not a large amount if you wanted to directly target them, be it through mailers, door knocking etc.

It's hard picking a market, but do the homework, maybe narrow it down to 3 and then start making contacts.

@Dalton Dyerhttps://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/712/topics/51...any city on top ten list is good. you can narrow your search when you do you research.Terry

We have family we can stay with so we're not in a huge rush on the buy side but here are a few ideas we're throwing around.1) Look for a SFH in an area with a lot of appreciation potential in the next few years (thinking Inglewood in light of the new stadium and all the development down there) 2) Look for a 2-4plex in Torrance/Redondo area- live in one, rent the other.3) Look for better cash flow and lower purchase prices out of state- would focus on MF properties.Once we narrow down which direction we're going in, I will absolutely reach out to those offering their services/expertise.

You'll still be competing with other buyers, but your competition is narrowed to people with cash (and there are a lot fewer of those than there are buyers getting financing). 

My most likely route will be to go with a narrower engineered type product, in a medium/dark stain, and then have it matched when the floor guy refinishes the rest of the house.

Once you've narrowed your choices down, bring them along to do a stink test on the property.