Woods You may want to visit your local real estate investment club.

some of the biggest wealth in the US is generated by path of progress land plays usually the farmer seller to the developer.but I will give you a few of my personal land plays.1. 3.5 acres Rohnert Park CA.. when I bought it in early 90s it was unbuildable.. but it sat behind a home depot and I took a calculated risk.. now its been annexed into the city and zoned mixed use residential and sites right next to the Graton casino they built a few years ago..

It's a duplex in San Jose, CA.

My current situation is I am planning to sell our current home in Southern California that we have lived on for about 3 1/2 years.

Hey me and my dad are wanting do this whole real estate thing we are about to go to than merrills real estate workshop for 3 days and I seen some.posts that said it would be better to find a pro what's the best way to look for a mentor in my area I live in riverside california and we really don't have the money to pay for than expensive course any advice on finding someone in my area or maybe some free resources  any info is greatly appreciated really 

I watched NRIA's commercial for 3 years before I personally visited its office with my two-page questions to understand its business model and risk mitigation strategies. 

For me it is both a cash flow market as well as an appreciation market whereas California tends to be an appreciation market and not so much a cash flow market.

are there any "FIBI", "REI" or any other real estate meetings in Fresno, California?

I visited and sure enough it was...the condensation pipe was clogged and the water was overflowing and leaking through the ceiling in the back closet directly above where our furnace is located(and theirs is as well).  

I know some California investors in that same area that bought new, will rent them for two or three years loosing a little bit each month and then plan on selling them and cashing in on the appreciation.