.-- You have lots of competition.

It's most likely that you will have to pay premium on a small complex with less competition that require less work and already cash flow.  

In strong sellers markets on the coasts, you can likely sell a bit easier, but the competition to buy may be brutal.

(I really just got lazy with it and stopped playing competitively, and okay I had moved on to casual leagues where drinking was the pre-game ritual....that's when I decided outfield was safe and fun. ha)I don't invest in CA at all.

Miami seems to be quiet when it comes to networking and forums, it is probably due to competitive market.

As a new investor, it seems a little crazy to try to compete with experienced investors in what they consider to be the most competitive market they've ever seen.   

Anything that is a good deal is gone very quickly and most just don't make sense financially.Pre-foreclosures  may be a better source of deals but that is a highly competitive list to target as well.  

The reason given by the Washington Legislature forbidding non-owners from paying someone else's taxes is that some owners were being scammed by investors paying the owner far less for a property he/she was about to loose, then the property owner would have received in excess proceeds from the highly competitive property tax foreclosure sale.A number of local investors say that the real reason for the change in who can pay property taxes, is that many county budgets were being seriously impinged by investors removing excess proceed funds that otherwise escheat to the county general fund.

Just really depends on the competitive nature of the keywords you're going after. 

There is a an active (competitive) investment community here.