Are there mentors out there that can guide us into searching for our first deal?

The most reliable method to locate liens and their positions is to conduct a title search through a title company.

Check out the threads that Nicholas L. linked to above then use the search function and you will find literally dozens more like it and begin to understand what can go wrong. 

I would say you should start off by just meeting multi-family investor-friendly agents who can help get you started with 5 units search and work on finding you off-market ones as well Thanks Kerlous!

As you may have found in your search, there are lenders that will lend up to 80% of the appraised value on investment properties and don't require an appraisal.Let me know if you'd like me to point you in the right direction.I have not; I'm still working on acquiring my next house hack, but when I need it, I'll probably use a combo of hard money and margin loan.

We're currently both working a W-2 job with a combined household income of roughly $150k, and searching how to start to our journey to financial freedom. 

Always do your due diligence folks, search for their name on here, check for criminal and civil court cases in the county they live/do business in, etc. 

If you are specifically asking about the requirements to get licensed you'll want to do a google search for you local laws and requirements.

Quote from @Tim Baldwin: @Nathan Gesner, that form should not be used, as it provides for 60 days notice to terminate a month-to-month tenancy, which FS 83.57 only requires 30 days.It was a ten-second search for an example.

Quote from @Sebastian Medina: I would search out people in your market that are flipping, and try going to a couple meetups as well.