Plenty of different methods to save up for a DP and establish a emergency fund.

It is within driving distance for you, which can be very helpful if you want to check on the property, if you have an emergency or if you are planning on using the property occasionally yourself (which most people do, it's a great perk of owning a home on the beach).

Using a cash advance to purchase might be okay if you have the funds or at least some of the funds and can pay off the loan immediately in an emergency, but I think it's a terrible idea and a recipe for disaster if there are no emergency funds available and you can't get financing or even afford insurance. 

I have my own ideas, but I think we will see some new leaders emerge and some previously leaders lag.

If it's because you had good credit, faced an emergency medical issue, maxed out your cards, but are working to pay them back, then they very well might.  

When I got a approved an family emergency presented and I notified my Realtor that I was not able to move in, the contract stated that if I terminated the contract early I was responsible for a penalty up to 2 month of the lease amount, I negotiated down with the landlord to have the last month of penalty reduced and she agreed.

Looking for emerging real estate markets outside of the expensive CA market.

If they sound confused or say they have never had a tenant by that name you can always say you misread the application and that is the emergency contact then go on with your normal questions. 

I would suggest staying in California if you can since you're new to this, because unless you have some boots on the ground in other states it might be pretty inconvenient to have to fly out there if needed for some property emergency (like the home catches on fire, flood, etc.)With 25% down you can make the numbers work in Sacramento.

What types of routine or emergency maintenance will it need (water leaks / exterminator / smoke & CO2 detector maintenance / air filters / gutters / outside maintenance / paint / flooring / refresh between tenants, etc.).