I would make so many offers that it would drive my agent nuts.

SoCal can be a tough nut to crack for newbies.A couple years ago I mailed out lots of letters to homeowners in 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.Have you considered an owner-occupied small multifamily for your first deal?

It drove management nuts- having to visit 3 times for a single month of rent broken into three pieces, for instance.

We are all a mix bag of nuts and everyone has different sensors. 

Currently we are getting serious about learning the nuts and bolts about long-distance investing and are looking at the Spokane, WA market to invest in next.

I know these are low-hanging fruit areas in the sense that they are cheap to buy but they are cash flowing like $100/mth. 

And it’s providing us with an incredible opportunity to focus on the positive and to channel some energy into something that will bear good fruit.

Even a blind squirrel finds a nut from time to time ;-)

Yes, there are a few areas in OH that are very "fruitful" so to speak.

We are also a student of Renatus and have been like I mentioned and we are excited to see all the results and the fruit of our labor thanks to information we have learned.