The guy should be in jail in my mind, but even with the market and all the other problems that have come up, they could have been straight with everyone. 

for folks in So cal  I think Vegas is a great choice   1. you can drive there   keep in mind flying to other parts of the country to check on property is going to eat up 1 months rent if you go annually.2.

Seems everyone wants to pay big bucks to learn how to ride a unicorn, then go meet with others who claim to ride unicorns, you know, those like minded people......they are like minded all right.      

Keep this in mind as you interact with them.

I work on the disposition side of wholesaling and the amount of inflated ARV's I see blows my mind.

Personally knowing the founder of BP, Josh Dorkin and the current CEO, Scott Trench, I can tell you that their intent in starting and growing the bigger pockets community is to encourage investors of all experience levels to share their experience and network with like minded individuals. 

The only downside with SC is the LTR pricing will be rough if you have to change course, so buy with that in mind.

My focus leans more toward equity appreciation than cash flow, and as a rookie investor, I’m aiming to put aside about $25-30k for investments each year.In the meantime, I’m looking to connect with like-minded folks here for mentorship, partnerships, apprenticeships, and even collaborations.Would love to hear your thoughts, advice, or anything you think might help as I continue piecing everything together!

And keep in mind who it is that would be living by the room. 

With your background in cyber security and experience in the stock market, you’re already bringing a strong foundation of analytical skills that will serve you well in this space.It sounds like you’ve done your research and are ready to take the next step—do you have a specific market or strategy in mind for your first real estate investment?