New Investor: Help Choosing Between Redding, Bakersfield, Wrightwood, or Escondido

[Dhrubajit Chowdhury]

Hi everyone! 👋

I'm a new investor based in California and currently looking to purchase my first short-term rental (STR) property. I've narrowed it down to four markets I'm seriously considering:

• Bakersfield

• Redding 

• Wrightwood

• Escondido 

I’d love to hear your thoughts on:

• Which of these markets you think has the best ROI potential in 2025

• STR regulations, occupancy, and seasonality for each

• Any personal experience investing or managing in these locations

• Recommendations for agents, vendors, or property managers

I'm looking for a market that's STR-friendly and not oversaturated.

Would really appreciate any local insight or lessons learned — thank you in advance!