Hi,  I am in the Inland Empire/Riverside and San Bernadino County areas.  

However, since I don't necessarily need to be totally hands-off in my investing, I'm now also looking into doing a flip in some of the lower priced areas of Southern California, like Riverside or San Bernardino county with the aim of taking on a project with a bigger potential payday.

Looking through the Riverside county website trying to find probate leads but I can't identify which cases are probates or even if I'm looking at the right page. does anyone know how to find these leads?

I've learned more particularly through listening to the podcasts than what an operational system could do for me.I also joined a local real estate investment club (Inland Empire Real Estate Investment Club - Riverside, CA) and they just want to help other to success in their real estate investing endeavors, by asking for advice on whatever deal someone is working on.Your best source of help is going to be through joining a local REIA, listening to podcasts and reading books.Have you read @Brandon Turner's book The Book on Investing in Real Estate with No (and Low) Money Down?

His name is Mel for the purpose of listing out our situationsHere are some of the realities of our situation:Mel has a lower FICO (610-620 I believe)My FICO score is higher (770)Mel has a W2 paying job where he is salariedI am a 1099 with two separate companies (Independent Contractor)Mel has been FHA approved up to $300k I have not because I don't have a "steady income" even though my income is higher than average, they don't like the fact that it is inconsistent because I am not salaried.We currently live in Orange CountyLooking in Pomona (LA County) and Riverside County for property because anywhere else $300k is unrealistic to find a multi or a SFR to flip.Now if you've come this far and read all that....

This would be done in Riverside, Ca just for the record.

(Elmhurst, Villa Park, Lombard, Westchester, Lyons, Riverside, Brookfield, Bensenville, Addison)Mike and I have been listening to the Bigger Pockets Podcast for about 2 years.

I am currently living/working in the Inland Empire, CA (Fontana/Riverside) .

Question 3: Areas outside LA I have been looking at Riverside, Redding and Sacramento and these areas seem to have potential.

I live in Riverside County, California.