If your financial situation allows you to buy one rental property this year, your goal might be to put in one legitimate offer on a property by the end of the third month. 

Any tips on getting started or resources I could look at?

None of the companies I've looked at offer any financial benefit to managing two properties. 

I've had situations where I've hired guys and they've either had financial issues or health issues that delayed my jobs.

I think the coastal purchases are more financially risky, but less hassle overall.  

Welcome@Chad Fagan, BP is an invaluable resource for investors. 

hello BP familyMy name is Stefan Chirila and moved in California from Romania in 2011. happy to be here and finally taking  my first action and come on board.I am 32 years old, did sport at the highest level all my life, I am married and Civil Engineer, when I moved in US I started working as a labor for a small construction company(didn't have rights, and not shame about that), throughout time I learned the language and got my rights and equivalent my degrees and eventually started to work in construction management as an assistant Superintendent for a very big GC, everything is good happy with my job with my growth in US in a very short time, but always had in me the filling that I can do more then just working hard and make money for someone else, always dream about financial freedom, never actually took actions in that direction. 

As you already know, BP podcasts are a valuable resource and go through every single one them.

However I would like to find someone to be a financial partner and I will do all the work.

By my calculations I can make it work but it'll be tight given my personal financial situation.