1st: Listen to the BP podcast from the very beginning, the early shows has some great nuts and bolts type advice for new investors.2nd: Get involved in a local Real Estate group and make contacts/friends in the business and try to help them in exchange for the opportunity to learn.3rd: Go find a great deal and bring it to the people you’ve met locally.

Welcome, @Brynn HatchSoCal can be a tough nut to crack for newbies.A couple years ago I mailed out lots of letters to homeowners across LA County with no luck.Then I tried rural Kern County and got a deal from a distressed homeowner in California City.The margins were not as large as they would've been in LA or OC, but I was able to rent it out for 2 years before fixing it up and selling it for a decent gain.Also, have you considered an owner-occupied small multifamily for your first deal?

Both attorneys in a nut shell said this...

I am currently in the knowledge acquisition phase of this hopefully long and fruitful journey and will be looking to move on our first deal sometime in the next few months (assuming we find the right deal!). 

Once my marketing and networking start showing fruit in Nashville, I'll set the trigger for San Diego. 

I’m in your backyard, if you’d like to talk nuts and bolts.

I'm definitely the kind of person that is borderline obsessive when making large decisions, so I anticipate that waiting for a realtor to respond when I'm trying to get a deal would drive me nuts.

I like EGP as well, it's got potential (easy access to L, a beautiful park, nice architecture) and I hope it grows.Also, a 6 BDR/4 BA unit is nuts!

That’s just plain nuts. 

Mike from Arizona , that was it in a nut shell , and helps me in recognizing beforehand.