Open to any ideas, resources or suggestions from people who have experience investing in land.

If I were in Southern California and starting out, I would look up @Aaron Mazzrillo and talk to him about the inland empire before you assume that California is too high or that you have to go out of state and area to buy long-term buy & holds.  

It's in NW Florida, and near the water the temperatures don't fluctuate as much as they do inland.

When I walk a property that is, or was, a house (we have numerous of Queen Anne, Second Empire, Victorian, Edwardian homes in our area that have been turned into 2-8 unit apartment buildings.), I always look under the carpet to see if the hardwood floors are intact (i.e no one has nailed plywood over them) and whether they can be refinished.I figure tenants (or buyers) can always use an area rug, or wear slippers, if they want something warmer underfoot.

I live in Inland Empire now.

On the smaller side of the business there is pacific empire builders

I found a spectacular private golf course, Redwood Empire golf and country club and the best part is the cost!

It would be great pleaure to exchange contact to get your criteria.im based in inland empire.

So the term is somewhat silly in that context.When I jumped to that process, I first contracted a combination of PM or licensed agents to do the work needed, then over time I consolidated my empire back into NOVA.

I have background in land and planning.