Hey Adam, I will address your questions with a story:When I was flipping houses in Western Nevada in 2014 as a side gig, I brought in a friend from my normal work on one particular house. 

Our West coast auctions have become so competitive that profit margins are in the toilet.

@Jorge J.  100% regionlized there are markets that are as strong or stronger than the market prior to the meltdown.Other markets have not recovered at all and may never.just depends on where you want to go.when you say vacation and your on the east coast that leads one to think Carolinas down to Florida.Florida and rebounded nicely from what i have seen

I live in the greater Chicago area (western suburbs currently) and would like to network with other investors, both new and experienced.

@Keenan Harry I am also from Space Coast area and new to BiggerPockets. 

You CANNOT afford PM.. it will chew up your cash flow... and PM's that work in these asset class's are far and few between. the better PM"s won't touch them.You would be better off taking a nice vacation you will get more out of it with the same results IE your bank account will be smaller at the end of the day.That all said I have been funding primarily C grades with some urban core D grades going on the better part of 20 years.I have Never seen a West coast investor make any appreciable money at this and have witness first hand most fail and walk or lose the properties..

I have just started doing deals on the east coast ( 3 years ago) were titles are MUCH older than out here in the west coast especially recent lot block subdivision type properties.Very common occurance for us these days I have 2 going now ( quiet titles) for the same reasons some relatives were not notified they need to sign off.. of course they can't be found and are probably dead.Seller inherited property.. old owner never bothered to get divorced or probate estate etc.Not sure the value of the asset in question so the value proposition is very real.

There are two things that are cheaper on the coast than the midwest- getting your nails done and getting your lawn mowed LOL.

Also, any anecdotes about First Western?

I’d like to start by buying and holding SFRs and small multiplexes (2-4 units) in Western Washington (right now I’m looking anywhere between Bellingham and Tacoma).