@Gloria Gronka I think a great way to get started is to attend local meetups. 

Expanding your reach by partnering with a local property management company in Jacksonville and implementing a pet-friendly policy can attract more tenants.

Have you spoken with a local credit union? 

Market research, local expertise, networking, property management, financial planning, potential legal and tax ramifications, risk management, and long-term vision are important factors to take into account.

Based on my experience even with hiring contractors you may also need to do some minor project management to keep the project on track.I definitely see what youre saying about the General Contractor saving me money in the long run due to him knowing local regulations better and getting better price on materials!

Are you planning to invest locally in New York, or are you open to investing out-of-state?

At that time, local jurisdictions may be allowed to require property owners to be owner-occupied. 

This means a great lending attorney, 1st position loans against local properties, and sensible loan-to-value ratios (LTVs).

If you visit https://www.biggerpockets.com/events, there is a section for "Community Events & Local Meet Ups." 

Local REI Meetup groups - AskThey are out there, but they are hiding under rocks a lot of times and you have to turn over a lot of rocks to find them.