My wife and I have been thinking about investing in the Inland Empire, but after reading about out of state investing, I'm reading more and more about that.

Since my wife and I would like to make real estate our full time, I would like to network with as many people as possible so we can help each other out, especially those in the Los Angeles, San Gabriel Valley, Inland Empire, and Orange County areas.

If you want cash flow, you will need to go further in land. 

I've been trying to do the same as you - purchase a 3-4 unit property in the North OC or Inland Empire area.

I'd also love to know the best markets for mountain / inland getaways (STRs) and beach/lake/coastal getaways (STRs).

Hi @Brandon Courtney - if you haven't visited Boise or the inland Northwest (Spokane, Coeur d' alene, etc)...definitely worth a look.  

Plenty of opportunity to build a real estate empire through property management by using it as a vehicle to acquire and expand intelligently.PM'n for 5-800 rent with deadbeat tenants and nickel and dime owners is probably too much work, just turn those down and go upmarket.

Petersburg3 Phoenix4 Dallas/Fort Worth5 Austin6 Denver7 Charlotte8 San Antonio9 Atlanta10 Washington, DC–Northern VA11 Houston12 Seattle13 Tacoma14 Salt Lake City15 Sacramento16 Inland Empire17 Las Vegas18 Washington, DC–District

In a case like that, I'd say they weren't on board with the movement to start with.However, I have a PASSION for real estate and a burning desire to build an empire of properties and I would still plow my money into real estate even if other alternatives offered better returns in the near term. 

Owner of beneficial interest inland trust can only sell that beneficial interest unless he is able to convert that interest to a warranted holding.