Also, getting with technology has been the next step for me to grow as most of the deals I have actually gotten under contract came from the internet.

Originally from Australia I still have difficulty resigning myself to the weather up here!!!

I am having difficulty narrowing down an area to focus on, whether to invest in my home state or go out-of-state etc..  

While the Bay Area focused on the 'new economy' and technology and high wage jobs, LA was focused on the old economy, ie light manufacturing.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/technology/386M-allegedly-gone-investors-fear-bitcoin-Ponzi/ar-AA9b3eM?

May have some good things but to go through the process of getting leads and working them may be good for some, but today's technology gives you access (for a fee) to many online services that pull county, city and tax data to support enough deals for anyone.

Ironically, despite their pumping more money into the technology, they ran the business in the ground in 18-months and lost more than we (the founders) did.

Opinions do very widely on this, but in my view the SoCal markets are very difficult.  I

You kind of limit the investors who need to go to see the house with todays apps and technology and reserve making house trips for final bids kind of thing. 

If the area is a high crime area, it is not worth it as you will get a low quality tenant and have difficulty selling the property.