Look at the demographics of your specific location to see if the rent is within 30--40% of income level. 

That is the ONLY way you will get the highest probability of success.Now back to why I wouldn't do what you advised him to do.I said it once and I will say it again.You do not chase "success" based on what you have available.You figure out what it takes to become successful and then use what you have to get what what it takes, to become successful.If it takes $30K, 20 hours/day, and a beautiful woman smart by your side, figure out how to get these things and become successful!

Any guidance & advise is appreciated :) 

Anything specific? 

Ask your dad to advise or go into some deals with you. 

You can schedule a call with me and i can go over the specifics of how it works.  

Within this area, are there any specific neighborhoods to focus on?

That is deal specific.

It's advisable to gather all relevant documentation and consult with legal counsel to assess your options thoroughly.

(BTW, I've created a spreadsheet to estimate the rental income required to qualify for specific properties and am happy to share it with anyone interested).After conducting some research and attending open houses, I found very few properties that meet my financial criteria within San Diego.