Quote from @Bud Meacham: The market is very competative in California.

I am an experienced investor and unexpectely find myself managing a duplex myself and wondering if there is a small landlord (aka inexpensive) simple solution for marketing, background checks and lease creation that markets on zillow? 

The key for me wasn't to invest in the 'best place' but to know a market so well that a deal jumps off the page when it appears.

Agent and leasing experience can help with negotiation skills, market knowledge, and tenant screening.

Logan county has the highest price per square foot new build in our market right now almost $400 per square foot.

From there we identify properties that could have some potential and if you are interesting in diving deeper, 1) we do a thorough video walkthrough to give you a realistic look of the property, 2) we give a ballpark estimate of rehab costs (we do 40 a year with our GCs o we will get pretty close), 3) we talk through market rent with our property management team, ARV, and potential highest and best use.Ideally you find great investor agents who know their market really well and have a network of resources to provide you with enough confidence to take reasonable action. 

Then they will start the process over.As for finding a market. 

On my new builds we hit the double cash on cash in certain markets sometimes its only 50%.

Quote from @Shayan Sameer: Quote from @Samuel Diouf: Columbus, Ohio is a great market to consider if you're looking for appreciation markets that still have cashflowing deals under $200k.

Yes - and even when its out there its typically impossible to qualify (need high rate and high DSCR and typically would have to qualify as a LTR - so almost a unicorn or in a really bad market)