If you check their websites they may give local agents contact info.  

I'd also connect with someone local that is doing what you're considering and ask them about their success in the space and if they have any advice for you. 

It cannot be covered in a few posts but to help you get started top left is a tab, LEARN check that out, and BUILD YOUR TEAM, just for starters; you must know how to underwrite your properties, and local laws.You are in the right place, check out some podcasts and read some books.

As soon as our lesson was over, this dude would loudly shout to his daughter, tell her to go to the local betting parlor, give her a  wad of money and a list of bets to place for him.

Use the enemy method and the search function in local Facebook groups.

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.

@Darnell Fenderson It's good to see that you are local.

I purchased the home from an auction.Talk to a local real estate attorney to go over options (eviction, cash for keys, etc) 

Reach out to your local land use planning and/or zoning department.

This is a "hire someone" but getting someone to look at it before we need to put in an offer is tough in the local market and the contractor we usually use is unavailable do to family issues for the next two weeks.  2) Will it matter which direction the new stairs would run up the second floor in regards to the direction the joists run?