Population and Job Growth are the main Key.

Since your main income isn't tied to CA and you plan to have profits coming in from OOS rentals, I bet you'd save money on state income taxes by no longer being a CA resident. 

Those were my main two things to get done according to him.

A lenders main concern is your ability to repay the loan, if you lived your own they deemed you not able to.

I can deduct a portion of property tax equal to the ratio of granny flat / (granny flat + main home)4.

the main thing to look out for is if they are constantly going there for repairs, where i invest has houses about the same age and usually the 1st thing i do when i buy them is replace mechanical s, those are always the things that give you the most trouble, then you do not have to worry about them for at least 12 years. it is probably any extra maintenance killing your profit.

Master bedroom and bath. 2nd full bath upstairs with hallway bedrooms and a half bath downstairs in the main living area.

I have also just started my real estate career (main job is a teacher) and don't have many contacts for lenders, contractors, etc.

I started with a house hack duplex about 25 years ago...Here's what I wish I knew:  The main thing is to receive the rent. 

NOI might be a small part if appraiser knows about it, it it’s going to mainly be comps in the area