So the economy there is solid.

d) What happens to Cali's economy?

A client of mine recently invested there and raves aboutt the ease of finding solid contractors who stick to the budget.One piece of advice: before jumping into any market, spend time understanding the local economy, demand drivers (like job growth and population trends), and the landloard laws.

Would love to connect with local RE agents and have an idea of the market situation in SA.

So, I went hunting.Huntsville, Alabama, caught my attention because it’s a highly educated city with growing industries and a stable, diverse economy, as well as a really high quality of life compared to the surrounding areas. 

With that in mind, my first idea was to buy a condo or a house in my local area (Palm Springs, CA) and use it as a long term rental. 

Have you tried attending your local REIA's and real estate meet-up groups?

I have been to the DFW area a few times but not specifically to these northern suburbs, but I know that DFW is one of the fastest growing metro areas in the country with a robust economy, and I expect it to keep growing.

From what I have heard, Dayton is a similar market, and you will ALWAYS save money by investing locally by not needing to hire a Property Manager (yet).

I suspect it's due to the change in the housing market and economy.