Finding deals is tough in those markets unless you're prepared to go off market. 

gosh thats tough, Im sure the kids have no clue the cost of the repairs/replacements.   

Another ridiculous one was demanding that I repair the outer front door so it locks when it's never been locked in 25 years and locking it would prevent access to the mailboxes and intercom that are before the actual locked door for visitors postal workers and deliveries.

Quality skiing 30-60 minutes away. 15 minutes from excellent hiking and biking trails, golfing, etc..4. 30 minutes from Newbury beach and 15 minutes from Canobie Lake ParkIt's tough for me to gauge the attractiveness of vacationing here since I've lived in TX for over a decade.

CA as you know is very tough on landlords overall. 

If you do not know how to do any of this, you will have a tough go at it so i suggest learning or hooking up with someone familiar with this process.

Understandably it's a seller's market so I know it's tough as it is. 

This past summer the next-door neighbor had a plumbing repair (that was not HOA approved) and his "workers" did not turn off the water main.

The market is tough right now but with the right strategy you can still make it happen!  

Right now finding a cashflowing househack is tough given high market prices.