@Mark TaliercioCoStar is biggest platform for commercial properties.Have your investments goals ready.You can start by joining local real estate clubs.Get in touch with a local agent or investor and shorten your learning curve and save you a lot of headaches as they tend to understand the market better.All the best!

On top of that, I believe the HOA's tend to be more expensive in CA.

As long as I keep "cash net of goal setting" above 0, I can spend money on whatever I want because I know I've already paid myself and set funds aside to meet my other expenses.Bit of an odd take on budgeting, but they say whatever you focus on tends to grow.

One thing that makes it tricky is that people who like to not pay their taxes or mortgage will tend not to pay other things as well, which will spawn liens. 

The problem with a market that is supported in the short-term by investor and lender enthusiasm is that investor psychology tends to change on a dime to the downside. 

So these tend to yield more than core, with a little bit more risk.

I'm on some of the brokers mailing list along with monthly follow up calls to remind them of what I'm looking for , but they tend to send whatever they have in there current database rather than sourcing for property off market. 

Cats tend to urinate in the corner of the wall and floor, and the urine tends to flows under the floor trim and drywall to get to the base plate and studs.

Lenders tend to really like it, especially in a strong market, with a history of steady occupancy. 

Retail properties can be very lucrative but you have to know what to watch out for.Warm belt states tend to have more expansive growth and if a space goes dark if under 10k sq ft in size there is generally a waiting list of tenants to go in in desirable areas if your location is good and rents are reasonable for the market.