Starting from my backyard I'm looking to connect with some vets in the industry and familiar to the area/market.

Also find some funding and some friends that can help catapult me to where I am trying to go.Hey Jerome,I used to be in the trucking industry myself.

Curious how our self-managed 3-unit STR/MTR performs with industry expectations.

I suggest attending a real estate event and meeting other investors to see what other opportunities are out there and see what others have done!

Contrary to most business lending, the REI industry has a lot of "non-bank" lenders that provide attractive loans that can lower your cost of capital and improve your profit/cash flow. 

However, to my understanding, a 1031 conversion of an investment property to your primary residence after a safe harbor of two years does not trigger a tax event.

The industrial buy and hold buyers have virtually dried up in San Diego.  

You might find it useful to attend a meetup or two just to learn how other folks got their start into the industry :) I host a small/intimate meetup once a month in LIC, check it out here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/521/topics/1214850-meet...

I recommend checking Real Estate Events & Meetups here on BP as well!

@Robert Zajac pretty sure BRB charges less than an 8% management fee, so just as @Nathan Gesner states, they are making up for being below the "industry standards" by charging more elsewhere.BE CAREFUL about PMCs that claim they don't charge a markup on maintenance - TIME IS ALWAYS MONEY!