wondering if anyone knows of some good areas to look around for in austin, maybe add a member to there power team

First and foremost, check with your state laws as to what is in your power.

So I kicked the habit - I stopped going to seminars and started to apply some of those ideas that were preached by speakers who were experts at extracting fees from me.I started to attend real estate auctions, studying the process - watching others make a lot of money - I decided to get a credit line - increase my credit card limits and started looking for properties (cheap- ugly buildings) in the neighborhood where real estate auctions were taking place - my primary goal at this time was to learn the market in the area where I wanted to control real estate - I would look at 50-60 houses (but made no offers - when agents would try to qualify me I just said "I have a small inheritance and will not need financing) - I kept a journal of the price per square foot,  comparing properties, and all comments made by sellers and agents (this helped me to find the seller dominate selling motive),  that was helpful - but I soon discovered that I was just looking for real estate in the conventional way  - I needed to do something else - so I started to look for owners of real estate who had problems (I applied Power Prospecting formulas) and at the same time studying creative real estate techniques from the old masters in the industry - became a member of the Washington Real Estate Exchange, hosted a real estate investor club and started to give mini creative financing seminars  while networking with those I wanted to emulate. 

Episode 239 - Listen Here "Many people dream of achieving financial freedom, but how many actually get there?

Finding vacant land in LA will be tough and you will still need access to water and power once you get it.

I've heard of folks setting up the "budget" payments through their power and gas company so you pay the same price every month and then you either pay in at the end of the year or they refund money back to you.

There is a lot of power in that.

My wife and I were absolutely determined to buy an owner-occupied 2-4 multifamily so we can save money and work towards financial freedom.

I am of the opinion there is more than one way to skin a cat @Keith ThompsonNot to get too high on my soap box, but I have more freedom than most financial advisors to have that opinion because I don't get paid to sell financial products and my fee is not based on the percentage of your assets I manage.  

You may find it more prudent to use a real estate power of attorney for each property which the employee can present to the closing agent.