Also, I’m pretty new to this but I’m assuming you’d have to have an LLC in place to accept hard money or money from private lenders? 

Quote from @Chris Hertig: We recently purchased a multi-family property and have someone living illegally in an uninhabitable, detached garage. 

I would focus on saving enough money that if I had a deal go bad, then that money I saved was there to cover it. 

I’m interested in using hard money for a BRRRR or flip project, and I’d like to take the first steps toward making this a reality.

Quote from @Chris Pontello: Hi Chris,Correct me if I'm wrong as I'm still learning creative financing solutions, but paying them some money would be if I could take over the loan.

Buy the house and loan her the money. 

Yes, they can dispute the charge and then the CC company will have to open a dispute that you will have to answer to attempt to get your money. 

This would be from the same carpet company I used when I fixed up the house, so not trying to gouge them or anything.I'm looking for some guidance in this situation, pitfalls I could run into, or just straight up illegality.

Here's a post I made on "non-conforming" vs "illegal/unpermitted", understand they are NOT the same thing.

The property will be strictly for investment purposes, not a primary residence.I’ve been looking into two potential financing options:Hard Money Lenders (HML) – I’m drawn to this option for its speed in closing, but I know the rates can be higher.DSCR Loans – This seems like a great option for long-term rentals, but I’m unsure if it’s the right fit for my auction property since it might need some rehabbing.I’m also considering purchasing through a land trust or an LLC to add a layer of protection and privacy.So, my questions are:What’s the best way to approach financing for auction properties?