This is my dilemma, I just want to get it right but don't want to fork over money for something I'm not responsible for.

That's a health and safety issue.

Hello,I am about to start my real estate journey, but, having some dilemma I would like to share with you. 

We had the same dilemma.

The rehab project has been somewhat started but can no longer be completed due to health issues.

However my dilemma is that there is a large piece of land available for recreation of the tenants plus the home.

If the unit is messy/dirty to the extend of being damaging or a health hazard, our lease also gives us the right to send-in a cleaning service at the tenants expense.Your biggest concern as a landlord will be vacancy - both physical and economic - as vacancy is foregone revenue.  

To your health and the winner's wealth.

Does anyone have tips/resources on navigating this scenario; finding a good broker, questions to ask, key analysis to run to compare properties and gauging local economic health?

After getting married and adopting a newborn baby, I recognized the need for the health and life insurance benefits of a full-time position and hired on with Tandem Computers in 1992 making a six-figure salary.