Find a handful of likeminded folks that align with your goals and you'll be moving forward in no time.  

As an alternative to turnkey, I have more recently focused my buy and hold investing with a company that offers interests in portfolios of 10 SFRs at a time, that are co-owned by the managers for diversifying and aligned interests.  

I shopped pretty hard on my Refi and found 3 main products....5/1 ARM (lock at 4.25% for 5 years, then review, $2500 origination) Interest only (wasn't interested as it didn't align w my longterm goals), and a Fixed Product (15-30 yrs. high origination costs).

You're already in the right direction this is a great place to learn and align yourself as many experts have done here.

I never want to align with someone who is unethical.I make the least amount of money off of a sale of a home but I it's a feel good industry

Personally, I focus on buy and hold multifamily properties in C/D neighborhoods - the risk level aligns well with my goals.

Everyone we spoke to who were RE agents and/or investors were less dramatic, more aligned with what you said.

I understand that i cant wait for the stars to align and have the perfect 1st property just fall into my lap, eventually I will have to "just do it".

CA is a very dynamic market ... there are always good investment strategies to be played, but if you are a one trick pony you have to be either very very good at that one trick or very patient to wait for the market to be aligned with your strategy.

Also, given the lack of a track record, both you and the investor will be much closer aligned as far as risk.