Brandon has a good book on managing rentals or my personal favorite is Every Landlord's Legal Guide by NOLO.

My favorite investing strategy is the BRRR technique and one of the most affordable ways to purchase is the House Hack on 3-4 unit multi-unit properties. 

Penfed, my favorite HELOC lender, nor my local credit union, will not lend on a house with loose wires, termite damage, missing glass, or holes/missing sheetrock...with a full appraisal they see the repairs, and they will ask (and deny) if you don’t have the house in good condition.

Favorite neighborhoods?

But its a fun business and the Wine makers and vineyardist are quite close knit and take care of each other.My favorite area that has popped up in the last 25 years though is Eastern Washington  Walla Walla area  great Reds from that area.. 

But the practice has come under increasing tax scrutiny and it has become a favorite target of activists who point to issues of labor inquity within museums.

Wholetailing houses in good areas that have a major defect (mold in this case) are our favorite type of deals because they scare away most buyers that don't know how to deal with the problem.

Thats not investing thats gambling.  

Also use google to find the specific rent control laws for the areas you are looking.For overall California market trends my favorite podcast is by Bruce Norris at the Norris Group. https://www.thenorrisgroup.com...

I would personally try for a Quadraplex, it is my favorite investment property for a multitude of reasons (One roof, one yard, one veneer).