I live in Houma, LA about an hour south of New Orleans LA. I

Sounds like you and I see eye to eye on LA. I

but my home and family are located in LA. I

Oceanside housing is cheaper than in decent parts of LA I just don't know what areas are decent in Oceanside and what's not.

I check and the market in LA is just as good, if not better then SJ.

In a foreclosure the seller is the trustee or lien holder via sheriff, so if I understand this right, you were at the courthouse or other sale location with cash in hand (LA I believe requires 100% cash the day of the sale) and the seller (trustee or sheriff) "went cold"???

I spent the day driving across the country to LA. I

I contacted a LA who put me in contact with the investor (after I told the LA I woukd give a $2500 referral fee), the investor was interested and we agreed on a price and now his guy is working the ss.

Yea, LA is certainly a tough market to crack, however, bc of that, the rewards are just as fulfilling :)

On a side note, the previous tenant at my SFR rental here in LA is named Omid, great guy :-)