As I stated earlier I’m just starting out but any deals that I get I will post them on my website.

I have my property listed on websites and have received applications (with background/credit checks), along with many requests to view the property.

Can't speak to a PM, but I ALWAYS show when not quite finished. 

See real estate ROI calculators around the BiggerPockets site or other websites to make sure you're not missing any expenses category, and be generous in your estimates of expenses; i.e., error on the high side when estimating. 

I'm open to suggestions on beginner books to start on (just finished Rich Dad Poor Dad) and anything I can do to get started now (house hacking isn't an option for me).

I hate sounding like a broken record, but I just think it is good advice.What ever you use, get a website going WHILE you do your DM marketing.

If it's a standard Lakewood up/down duplex it probably has a plaster ceiling under the ceiling tile-- at least all the ones I visited when my son was apartment hunting were plaster.IMO, the "nicest" fix (assuming the old plaster is in poor condition) is to scrape off the acoustic  tiles and then drywall over the old plaster with a smooth finish; the cheapest fix, if the only problem is the one tile you pictured, will be to screw up the tile(s) that is/are lose, cover the screw with a little joint compound and then primer and paint the ceiling; If you are lucky the tiles have already been painted before.

Did a similar last year so intend to use the same products to finish.  

I have been trying to find an honest contractor to finish it out.Sorry...to your question...yes...I did separate the utilities and it was a bit a of a pain and an added expense that was more than I wanted to spend.

I’m flipping locally and just finished closing on a new project in La Mirada.