I'll connect with you on here so we can stay in touch.

Hi Marvin, most people in So Cal commute the other way, If you are living here house hacking is definitely an option especially if you want to stay in the San Gabriel Valley.P.S.

I would try to stay near Light Rail and transportation options.

IMO here- stay away from rentals in the western states.

Seems like this is a very spotty area but if I stay within Normal Station borders , it is generally OK.. 

@Raymond King Finding properties is all about connections: 1) Reach out and stay connected with RE brokers in your desired areas.

Also stay away from Cuyahoga and Cook counties, as the magistrates there highly favor borrowers and can really drag out the foreclosure process and rack up the legal fees. 

First, the most simple approach is to join all your local Facebook REIA groups and stay active in those by letting everyone know what your goals are. 

The low down payment helps me keep a lot of cash in my own pocket to support the rehab and stay liquid.Private money is nice, but sometimes can be difficult to use in conjunction with hard money. 

Side note; trying to collect a pet deposit from 5 year tenants who have already been there with a pet is like trying to stay dry after you jump in the pool.