I would suggest reaching out to other local investors by attending the FREE local Meetups here in Lake Forest, Anaheim, Irvine and more.

If RE is such a piece of cake, why does not everyone wanting to strike it rich get in and retire early collecting rent? 

It's icing on the cake, but what you really want to focus on are the economic and demographic trends of the markets and then the financial factors that make for a good cash flow market or whatever your particular goal is.

I always calculate my expenses at the high end and if my numbers still work then its a go, because anything extra is just icing on the cake.

@Colton C. realistically speaking you are wanting to "have your cake and eat it too". 

Forced appreciation is great through rehab or tackling mis-management but just regular appreciation is just icing on the cake.  1-4 units is a world with residential agents, lenders, property managers, etc.  5+ units is a different world with different brokers/agents, lenders, etc. 

I currently reside in San Francisco, but will be looking to move to Anaheim in early September.

There will be a few cities like Disney's Anaheim and a few other places where the hotel lobby is super powerful and you won't be able to run a STR property. 

Granted this should be icing on the cake from what I have gleaned from reading so far. 

@Philip Williams The WSOP addition to the story is just the icing on the cake.