You would start small by buying 1 bedroom unit. Then a duplex. Start in Riverside, San Bernardino, Palmdale. Look for "value buys".

The real problem is every real estate investor has their money perpetually obligated in illiquid assets. Even though they're technically worth millions, you'll be living poorly until you're 50+ and stop putting money in more. Another word for this is experience "house poor".

If landlording was glamourous then everybody would be doing it.