I'm interested in taking advantages of the more realistic home prices in the midwest, however I'm having a difficult time gauging what criteria to use to evaluate deals.

Right now I'm waiting on a paycheck from my new job to come in so I can apply for a secured credit card to (I'm not sure how long and difficult this process is) restore my credit.

Now, I'm in a different stage of life - nearly twice your age and 3 young kids, and a job that makes more than 4x, so it's difficult to pursue my desires without sacrificing my family's (family of 5) well-being.   

As I grow I search for things I don't know and others do: how to find an accomodator for a1031 exchange, do I need a whole new roof or just repair the roof I have, how does this decision change my tax situation, I've got my first 4 loans and find out the 5th is more difficult so how do I carry on, do I snowball my rents and pay down my mortgages or keep borrowing, now in single families does it pay to do multifamily properties...I am searching for something each and every day. 

I'm looking to get into whole selling but it seems a little more difficult especially when I know like 0 investors and I have no partner..So that's why I wanted to kinda jump head first and go straight to a hard money lender so I can get this ball rolling.

So going to a REI meeting would be kind of difficult at the moment.

The May meeting may be difficult with a tiny new baby, and in June my husband will be gone.  

Sounds like it would be very difficult to move.If you aim to buy it, then you might want to research similar motels on loop net  and/or thru brokers, find a LOI template for a hotel, build a buyer's list, and approach a bank/ private money.  

That makes it much more difficult to find these institutions.

@Micah Copeland Absolutely would go for a higher cap rate in a more difficult area.  1/1 and 2/1 are also likely to attract a shorter term tenant than larger units so keep turnover in mind.