As far as meetups go, you can find a lot of local events posted here on BiggerPockets: https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/521-real-estate-events-...I also have a list of Chicago meetups that I can share with you as well.

Her health is OK, but it's going to drop quickly if we don't find a way to get her active and lose some weight. 

My recommendation to serious real estate investors is buy an opportunity in any segment, do the math (it's all about the ROI; some investors fall for the 'commercial' is more prestigious chest thump to find that losing money isn't very prestigious at all), and plan on proactively running a business. 

Home price appreciation is still trending up, but cashflowing rentals are difficult to find for the most part.

How did you find this deal and how did you negotiate it?

finding and analyzing deals should be at the top of your list of things to learn when starting out!

Verifying last 2 years of rental history and income extremely important to find the “best of the worst”.Make sure you understand the Class of properties you are looking at and the corresponding results to expect.The City of Detroit has 183 Neighborhoods we’ve analyzed.DM us if you’d like to discuss this logical approach in greater detail!

They find deals on oceanfront houses all over the country.I'd even look for a fixer upper to get a great deal.

Large apartment complexes flooded the market with inventory and are offering crazy incentives and amenities that crush the small landlord which can make finding a tenant challenging and often for less than market rent. 

A HELOC or home equity loan on your personal home could be a viable option to fund the rehab, but it's always a good idea to chat with a lender to explore all your options and find the best fit for your situation.