Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2014 · 178 posts · 64 votes
At the end of March I'm going to a wedding in Tucson AZ, and am planning to turn it into a vacation by heading to California from there. Wondering where to go? What to check out? I often fantasize about moving there and escaping the cold NE winters... What are the RE markets like? Where are there good profit margins for flipping and/or rentals?
I'm planning to visit an aunt in Santa Monica, maybe a friend in LA... Other than that have no plans. I'd like to check out at least one more city. Other than scoping real estate, I'm interested in seeing some architecture, maybe doing some hiking or camping... What attractions/features can ppl recommend to get a sense of what's out there?? I hear there's an ocean, but other than that have no clue. Thanks!!!
Investor · Los Altos, CA · Member since 2014 · 942 posts · 1k+ votes
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@Nancy L. many people say the margins are tight, but that is all relative. I just posted about some properties I purchased in 2013. It was in response to a newbie from SF asking about Milwaukee. Also there is a post from me a few months ago about a 1% deal with seller financing that I got in Oakland.
I just spoke to somebody from Philadelphia this past weekend and were comparing notes. The raw numbers for investment were different, but the percentages seemed to track fairly closely between the two markets. This is by no means any type of real analysis. We were just talking about 2 specific deals, so there might be a much wider swing and it just happened to be that our deals came out to similar numbers.
As for finding success, there are guys doing the auction thing, the yellow letter thing, the bandit sign thing, all the strategies you would find in other places, people are using here.
Take US 101 north out of Los Angeles (you will go through Camarillo, Ventura, Santa Barbara). At Las Cruces you will take CA 1 where it splits from US 101. The two roads do continue to 'comingle' until you get just north of San Luis Obispo, but stick with CA 1.
I grew up and now live in the east. While there is a great deal of historical/man-made beauty to be found in this area of the country, few things can match the majestic expanse of the Pacific Coast along CA 1 from Morro Bay north to where it meets back up with US 101 in Mendocino County, some ~500 miles later. It was a life-altering journey for me.
Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2014 · 178 posts · 64 votes
11y
@Erin A. and @Jeremy T. Oh my gosh, I can't wait, I'm so excited!!!!!!!! I've been cooped up inside all winter. Timing of this trip could not be more perfect. Everything you're saying sounds amazing!! I think I was about 10 yrs old last time I was in CA.
Residential Real Estate Agent · Santa Barbara, CA · Member since 2012 · 233 posts · 45 votes
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Real Estate investor meet up March 7th at 4pm in Santa Barbara Ca at the Santa Barbara brewing company on state st! Check my post about it! Thanks so much and look forward to seeing you there!
Residential Real Estate Agent · Santa Barbara, CA · Member since 2012 · 233 posts · 45 votes
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Meet up in Santa Barbara County !!!
Dwell Real Estate Group is hosting an investor meet up on Saturday, March 7th, 2015. This is an open-forum type of gathering with the aim to help grow your business and increase your network. I encourage everyone who is active in real estate investing or private lending to come and bring any associates who share your interests.
The assemblage will start at 4 p.m. and will be held at Santa Barbara Brew Co Lounge (in the back). We'll begin with an introduction from myself followed by a meet-and-greet to grow your network. For those of you with success to share, deals you'd like to partner up on, etc; we will be hosting a group discussion for part of the event for all who would like to participate.
Come join us at Santa Barbara Brew Co Lounge (back entrance) 501 State St Santa Barbara Ca 93101 at 4pm! For all questions, please call Tony at 805 451-7066 or email at [email protected]
Investor · Colorado Springs CO · Member since 2014 · 535 posts · 253 votes
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Oh my, there's too much to see in CA for you to see it all in 2 weeks. My husband and I spent nearly a week in Yosemite National Park for our honeymoon and still didn't get to see it all. There is camping there, but I think you'll have to check what available/open for when you'll be here, as I think the weather might make it inaccessible, but I'm not sure.
There's plenty to see in the LA area - Hollywood walk of fame (where all the stars are on the sidewalk with people's names), Griffith observatory (which I think is open again, but verify that), La Brea tar pits (yes, legit tar in LA), museums, Reagan presidential library, missions, etc. I honestly avoid LA county, though, just personally. Orange County has some awesome beaches, museums, missions, hiking, etc. Laguna Beach is very hipster, if you're into that. Going up the coast is beautiful too, up into Santa Barbara. The Santa Barbara mission is gorgeous (it's the "queen" of the missions). Up into San Luis Obispo/Morro Bay, that's all amazing-looking area, lots of open land. There's lots of wineries in Paso Robles, which is another cute town there, so if for some reason you can't make it up to Northern CA, you can get your winery fix there. Or in Temecula (down in Riverside county), they also have some wineries. That's a cute town too.
If you're looking for real estate, you're kinda late to the party, but I've been hearing that there are better deals inland than there are in LA and Orange counties. You can check out the Inland Empire (Riverside - San Bernardino - Ontario area), I've heard of people getting better returns out there. I grew up in Riverside myself, and there's some stuff to see there, too. Dowtown, oh and the Mission Inn! If you like architecture you can check that out. It's not an actual mission, it's an old hotel made to look like a mission. Lots of US presidents have been to it; Nixon even got married at it. Don't need to stay there (it's super expensive), but you can walk around the area and check out the architecture.
There's camping all over SoCal, but I'm not sure what you consider "camping" as I'm assuming you're not bringing a tent and stuff with you to AZ. You can rent cabins up in the mountains, like around Mt Baldy, Arrowhead, Big Bear, etc., if that's what you're looking for.
I don't know how much you've dug into landlording in CA, but CA is incredibly unfriendly to landlords. Something to consider. My husband and I personally won't buy any more rentals here, and plan to sell our current rental in the not too distant future. If you're interested in rentals in the southwest, you may actually want to look in the Tucson and Phoenix metros. AZ is more landlord-friendly, is cheaper, and has better ROI than CA. Just an idea.
Rental Property Investor · Camarillo, CA · Member since 2014 · 80 posts · 18 votes
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Being from Northern California, you need to go a bit farther than SF in central California to be in Northern California. That being said, SF, Monterey, Berkeley, etc. are nice. I like Paso Robles for wine country. It is less snooty for us workin' folk.
Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2015 · 7 posts · 3 votes
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@Nancy L. As an angeleno, I know you will no doubt enjoy your time here.
If you don't have time to get all the way up to norcal from LA, I would say definitely go wine tasting in Santa Barbaba / Los Olivos. Or check out the amazing mid-century modern mecca that is palm Springs. Either way, it's hard to go wrong.
Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2014 · 178 posts · 64 votes
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@Tony Cavalli Thanks, but I won't get there til Late March! Try to have one while I'm there. :)
@Kimberly T. Thanks for all the great suggestions! I'll have to plan a return trip... As for landlording, I hear you about the laws there. Perhaps I'll build my Philly rental portfolio and just keep it if/when I move... Or as @Ali Boone suggests, focus on the fix and flips. In any case I do have to think about a personal residence, so all my explorations will be helpful I'm sure! As for camping, hadn't even thought about cabins, which sound like a good idea. I was thinking of tent camping, either trying to find someone local to borrow things from, or yes, lugging my stuff to AZ and being the only wedding guest to show up with a tent along with my cocktail dress.. :-p I'm an occasional backpacker so my gear is generally pretty light/minimal. I'm also just cheap when it comes to my vacation planning lol. Saving all my $$ for investments....
Sherman Oaks, CA · Member since 2013 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
11y
Well Nancy, young lady if you like camping you are in luck. There are several campgrounds located in Malibu/Ventura areas. Most are on the beach and one is located in Malibu Canyon off the beach a few miles but really right in the middle of LA generally speaking. I used to teach surfing at Santa Monica College and every semester we would do a camping surf trip....talk about the world's greatest college credit! Here the local google search, feel free to check back as these coastal locations have variety of options as far as being walkable to eateries vs remote etc.
Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2014 · 178 posts · 64 votes
11y
@Matt R. That looks amazing!! This is going to be the best trip ever!!! I tried surfing once in Long Beach Island but it didn't go very well... It seemed more like trying not to drown while tethered to a surfboard... Maybe it would have helped if I took a lesson! Not this trip, but next beach trip, I'll have to try again.
Investor · Pokolbin, NSW · Member since 2014 · 67 posts · 22 votes
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@Nancy L. Well it seems as though there are many great suggestions. If it's camping you want I would stick to hwy1 between San Luis Obispo and Monterey/Carmel where you can camp along the way.
There have also been a number of suggestions for the wine regions. If you do come by let me know. Winemaking is my day job and I be happy to show you around the Central Coast.
Real Estate Coach · Venice Beach, CA · Member since 2012 · 6k+ posts · 3k+ votes
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Oh yeah, like @Erin A. suggested Yosemite, Sequoia is right near there too and it is my favorite. You can also camp in Big Sur which is totally amazing, it would even be on your way to SF.
THANK YOU everyone!!!! It really was nice of people to give all these suggestions! I'm really excited for the trip and have so many great options now I doubt I'd have thought of.
Investor · Buffalo, NY · Member since 2014 · 15 posts · 3 votes
11y
Hike Runyon Canyon but begin at the Fuller entrance. If you are not used to hiking, stay to your right. While there take a drive down Mulholland. Although Mulholland runs from Malibu to Hollywood. Views are great between Cahuenga and Laurel Canyon. Visit Getty Museum, LACMA, Griffith Observatory. Take a drive up and down PCH from Malibu at Ventura Line to Palo Verdes. Visit Venice Beach, Manhattan Beach. Consider a trip to Catalina Islands. If it is your birthday, you can take the ferry for free. You have to book ahead of time on the website. If not, it is stiff. $49 per way, I think. The Entertainment.com book has coupons. Park a few blocks up the street for free in Long beach. You can also visit Aquarim of the Pacific down there. If you like exotic food, visit the different communities for them. There is a food truck somewhere downtime that has aunthentic veitnamese Banh Mi Sandwiches (or Mendocino Farms if you don't mind the price), Places like Pho Co??? on Broadway and Glendale intersection in Glendale have HUGE bowls of Pho for about $7. Try Boba teas, roasted duck in China town. Get authentic neighborhood food in K-town, Little Ethiopia, Thai town, Little Armenia, the like. For night life, try the Standard Downtown. Yogurtland for cheap frozen yogurt. Cantors for sandwiches. Pinks for hotdogs (although I don't know what the fuss is about). Visit Universal City walk. Consider Disneyland, Universal, Magic Mountain, LEGOLAND (if you are into that stuff), Knots Berry Farms. Grab an Artvoice for events (I haven't picked this up in years and others might know where to get local events. You are welcome to look me up when you are here. I'll even give you a tour of CBS, not much behind the scenes though at this location I work at. Oh, try to see if it isn't too late to get on Price is Right and other shows... tickets are free.
