I want to start researching investor friendly agents in my area.

Make sure to plan ahead and speak to an investor friendly lender that can help you look ahead at potential roadblocks and how to avoid them or overcome them before getting your self into a sticky situation. 

IE- does it make reclaiming the property and evicting the end user more difficult?  

The best way to find investors for syndication you first have to determine if you will need 506b investors or 506c506b can be anyone you have an existing relationship family, friends , business partners or 506c are accredited investors only and don’t require a relationship You then should join local network group chamber of commerce Local real estate investor group BNIStart building relationships with people and educate them on your prospective or prior deals that you done.

Student rentals are great because you rarely have to worry about vacancy, and you'll get a range of students willing to pay a premium to live in the nicest house off campus vs some students who just want a cheap apartment with their friends.

Also considering Nevada which has low property taxes and is more landlord friendly than CA I can give you more info about East Bay if you'd like. 

I do a weekly "live deal analysis" on my Facebook page if you are interested, it's public so you can view it without friending me.

I've been working under a friends GC license and now working on getting my own.I am currently house hacking my invest property, the main house is rented out and I live in the unfinished back unit in the back that will eventually be a DADU.

Quote from @Mike Grudzien: Zach,Even private money doesn't like 2nd position.My 2-cents,Mike Yeah, was thinking more along the lines of close circle private money(friends and family).

Some friends and family are interested in buying in to the right deal, but I don't understand how they get paid (wrong specialty I guess).