The key is to find a future growth market, get in early, and ride the wave. 

Again, lower your expectations.Good luck  Just spent a few hours stalking the new properties we brought to our PM book.Bloody nora mate, hard to believe what folks are buying and where and for how much 🤷‍♂️First time in 10+ years that I actually started getting worried a bit about our market.I mean, we are talking D class stuff selling for $80,000+All off the MLS also.Toledo got some sexy PR this year but this is insane.Can't sell turnkey in B class for sub $100,000 if my life depended on it.But D class run down $%#@ off the MLS selling for $80,000 all day long.And some solid comps to support this $#%@ also...PM is booming so we will ride the wave.Surfs up 🏄What a shame though....

Hey Bobby, welcome aboard the wild ride of BP!

I'd like to get another eight years out of her.When the weather's decent, which it is quite a bit here in CO, I ride my '05 Triumph speed master.

However, if you purchase with a cash flow cushion already in place, you can ride out any down turn or slow down in the market.

My kids were the first in the family to go to collage and like your parents they got a full ride from Dad and Mom..

I'm female, I'm sensitive, I'm somewhat introverted... is it possible I'm just not cut out for landlording, or are there good tricks for riding above the storms?

Assemble as much money as is reasonable, be prepared and enjoy the ride.

Not all investors share the same goal.If it's strictly positive cash flow, you're going to have a tough time meeting that goal while living in one of the units these days in Belmont Shore.Under the current economic decisions, if you're going to live in one of the units, a more realistic goal might be to subsidize your mortgage with the other two incomes to bring your mortgage payment down, build equity, ride the market appreciation, force some appreciation of your own, refinance when rates are in your favor to crush the mortgage payment down, and keep positive cash flow for a long-term goal.Belmont Shore is a nice area where homes hold their value well and enjoy good appreciation as well as strong rents and in general, the type of renters landlords are looking for.Belmont Shore is also a good area for short-term rentals and you may want to consider renting one unit as an LTR and the other as an STR.Ultimately, your situation is going to dictate whether this triplex is a good investment for you and your husband but as a Long Beach resident, I know that Belmont Shore is an area that people aspire to buy a home in.

I've shifted my focus from textbooks to spending quality time with my dad, who hasn't been feeling well lately, and I'm aiming to build up some savings through investments.Now, I don't have a car, but I have a friend who works nights and has kindly offered to give me rides anywhere between 3am and 4pm.