Go live way out where most people wouldn't prefer to be right now ... think houses in the desert or rural ...

With all the desert surrounding Las Vegas, one would think there is an abundant amount of land to bury dead bodies or build new homes.

Keep listening to podcasts and use all the free tools here on BP that not only teach you a ton of amazing stuff but keep your spirits up and mindset focussed on what really matters as you walk through that desert ahead of you.

You will have to leave the state of California (or go way out in the desert) if you want to live in one of the units AND cashflow with only 3.5% down. 

I am, as you have correctly surmised, a horrible old man eating of his bitter heart in the desert and liking it.

However, if you are talking California almost anywhere in California this should prove to be a profitable strategy but it also depends, not in the middle of the desert for example or in depressed areas, war zones would also be obviously out as well.

It’s also young — the average resident is just 33 years old.Like much of the area, North Las Vegas is a landscape of contrasts, where pawnshops are as common as manicured golf courses.Squat and basic housing complexes sit just miles from more luxurious homes with grass lawns — a rarity in a community where yards of rock and of desert are the norm.In a fast-moving market, many can’t afford to buy at all.

SW of just west of you in the desert. 

Compared to the midwest and desert SW, then yes.

Down the road when I'm more comfortable I can see myself going out of state, but I don't think I want to for my first experience.If I'm totally honest, I'm probably too risk-averse to make my first property(ies) outside of comfortable driving distance (max 3-4 hours), leading me to look in places like the high desert (Joshua Tree, Yucca Valley, etc) or mountain destinations like Lake Arrowhead/Big Bear.