I absolutely love both of these areas and believe there are great opportunities everywhere, whether you're buying to live or investing.

I think everyone's situation is different, and when one crafts their buy box, they need to consider their current family and finances.For me, when I started, I wanted to buy 2-4 unit distressed properties in neighborhoods I wanted to live. 

Quote from @Brandon Croucier: A DSCR Loan requires the property to be in LIVABLE CONDITION.Does it mean YOU would live in it?

In the area I lived the properties were too expensive (Watsonville CA) so I began doing farther searches out of my area.

The couple who lived right next door to our development have an old home that they rent out- it's about 1000sf on half an acre. 

The first year was challenging meaning had a tenant but not saving, it was just making my living expenses cheaper.

Nate and Jiries teaches how to capitalize on BRRRR, but they're constantly doing live feeds to answer questions for students, it's like you're constantly learning through case studies. 

The single biggest advantage of selling your homestead is that you can take all the Cap gain tax free if you have lived in the home as your homestead for 2 of the last 5 years. 

We overthink real estate...Just find a place that people with options want to live. 

I'm planning on buying a small multifamily first and foremost so I have a place to live and then will either buy a single family or another multi family depending on what I can find/fits my criteria at the time.