How to build a network to buy more rental properties in Cleveland

[Monica Crisostomo]

My husband and I live in California and we completed our first purchase of a SFR in Cleveland (Garfield Heights) about 4 months ago through a turnkey company (purchase price about $61K with a monthly rent of $920 before expenses). We are now ready to look for more properties, but after searching through Zillow we are considering doing this without a turnkey company, but we understand we need we build a support network of contractors, property managers, real estate agents, partners and more. Do you have any advice on how to find a network of good people? We are both in the computer field (software engineers), are very solid and just good people, and are looking to use the income from rents to at one point cover our living expenses so we can quit the 9 to 5 and just spend time with our family. I also just got laid off so I unexpectedly have a good chunk of time to research, learn and work towards this. Any advice and/or introductions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Monica