Leaving SoCal won't be easy, as we love the lifestyle, but everyone is getting older and everyone in the family is back east.I'm a licensed broker in CA but have never used it.  

What is your life-style now? 

Not only does the thought of having financial security apease me but the life style as well.

I previously suffered from analysis paralysis but have decided that his is going to be the year.My plan is to build a portfolio that will cash flow enough for me to quit my full time job and maintain my current lifestyle within 5 years.

Gut RE is a LIFESTYLE not a job.Just today I was out looking at 800 acres in Clark Co WA. developer ran into trouble with IRS needs 2.1 million in the next 30 days.. property is worth probably 15 mi..

The good thing about this grind is that it pays very well and can pave way towards a lifestyle of your choosing.

San Francisco is the culprit with sky high rent and a lifestyle to match.

I appreciate it and will do my due diligence to enhance myself.

As someone else mentioned, your question is more of a book topic.To give you one specific data point that I hope will be helpful, in short, if I was your client and you found me a small multi with a current GRM of 12 (that I could get closer to 10 with some improvements/mgmt), and in a local neighborhood with "will always be a renter" residents, and a few other attributes I favor, I'll buy it, throw off 5% free CoC return, and a 5 year IRR around 15.There's an insane number of variables that go into me having these specific requirements, but this is the best optimization I've done for my lifestyle, situation, personality, and risk appetite.  

I am eager to continue my research and learn as much as I can through the podcasts as well to enhance my knowledge and get the ball rolling.