Here's what I have done:I reduced the amount of my 401k contributions to the maximum required to get the employer match.  

Or maybe you can get your employer to let you work part time or from home (Read The 4 Hr Work Week by Tim Ferris for some ideas!)

If you pay yourself a property management fee then you report it as a rental expense but you also need to report it as income - and its subject to income tax and also another 15% self employment tax on the bottom line, and thats where you lose.

The only niche you need are these two CASH FLOW or EQUITY.IF THE property has either of the above - than considered ituse creative acquisition formulas use delayed settlement tacticssubject to only one out clause employ a skinny contract offermake offers everyday subject to inspectionsmake an offer on every property you find use check fundsdo not use an agentdo not deal with listed real estatework on FSBO's and expired onlyAdvertise on the radioControl and Roll everything you findHave fun and enjoy this wonder profitable exciting cash flow business

I live in Northern California, I am currently self employed and hope to start investing in real estate in 2017.

I know there have been some great books written by bigger pockets members regarding the transition from full time employment to investing.

Following are the similarities and differences between the solo 401k and the self-directed IRA.The Self-Directed IRA and Solo 401k SimilaritiesBoth were created by congress for individuals to save for retirement;Both may be invested in alternative investments such as real estate, precious metals tax liens, promissory notes, private company shares, and stocks and mutual funds, to name a few;Both allow for Roth contributions;Both are subject to prohibited transaction rules;Both are subject to federal taxes at time of distribution;Both allow for checkbook control for placing alternative investments;Both may be invested in annuities;Both are protected from creditors;Both allow for nondeductible contributions; andBoth are prohibited from investing in assets listed under I.R.C. 408(m).The Self-Directed IRA and Solo 401k DifferencesIn order to open a solo 401k, self-employment, whether on a part-time or full-time basis, is required;To open a self-directed IRA, self-employment income is not required;In order to gain IRA checkbook control over the self-directed IRA funds, a limited liability company  (IRA LLC) must be utilized;The solo 401k allows for checkbook control from the onset;The solo 401k allows for personal loan known as a solo 401k loan;It is prohibited to borrow from your IRA;The Solo 401k may be invested in life insurance;The self-directed IRA may not be invested in life insurance;The solo 401k allow for high contribution amounts (for 2016, the solo 401k contribution limit is $53,000, whereas the self-directed IRA contribution limit is $5,500);The solo 401k business owner can serve as trustee of the solo 401k;The self-directed IRA participant/owner may not serve as trustee or custodian of her IRA; instead, a trust company or bank institution is required;When distributions commence from the solo 401k a mandatory 20% of federal taxes must be withheld from each distribution and submitted electronically to the IRS by the 15th of the month following the date of each distribution;Rollovers and/or transfers from IRAs or qualified plans (e.g., former employer 401k) to a solo 401k are not reported on Form 5498, but rather on Form 5500-EZ, but only if the air market value of the solo 401k exceeds $250K as of the end of the plan year (generally 12/31);When funds are rolled over or transferred from an IRA or 401k to a self-directed IRA, the amount deposited into the self-directed IRA is reported on Form 5498 by the receiving self-directed IRA custodian by May of the year following the rollover/transfer.Rollovers (provided the 60 day rollover window is satisfied) from an IRA to a Solo 401k or self-directed IRA are reported on lines 15a and 15b of Form 1040;Pre-tax IRA contributions on reported on line 32 of Form 1040;Pre-tax solo 401k contributions are reported on line 28 of Form 1040;Roth solo 401k funds are subject to RMDs;A Roth 401k may be transferred to a Roth IRA (Note that from a planning perspective, it may be advantageous to transfer Roth Solo 401k funds to a Roth IRA before turning age 70 ½ in order to escape the Roth RMD requirement applicable to Roth 401k contributions including Roth Solo 401k contributions and earnings.)

We have a heavy transient population with a large industrial employer in town.

So I'm debating on looking for a new job, or sticking to my current job for employment term qualifications.

@Rick Rivas,      Casa Grande seems to have a few things going for it and hopefully market will go up a bit as employment in the region expands.