I think it's great you're trying to help people but I would risk too much bc you'll eventually get burned.  

I saw some properties with a judicial amount of 200K but with an opening bid of 9K and eventually getting sold for 25K.

That being said, connect with a local flipper or General Contractor, take them out to coffee, and pick their brain.That's what I did, and it lead to me eventually partnering with the wholesaler I took out to coffee and just recently completing my deal and splitting it with him in exchange for him guiding me through the process and teaching me.

He could benefit from not worrying about unloading a property he doesn't want, gets all the money he's asking for (eventually), and I get the cash flow with minimal expense to get in the deal.With respect to offering my co-worker more, I'm only considering it if it appraises for more.  

I am in R4 zoning which specifically allows for STR's, but if some smart guy who doesn't like me downtown wants me shut down, they could do this to me, and it would eventually work.

The music will eventually stop if distributions have to be made.The best protections for this is having a good accountant looking over the books.  

So ideally if you eventually get rents to market value by increasing at $250 per month you'd be up to $5300 gross per month.  

My goals here is to learn and eventually help out as much as I can.

However, if your spouse is just a bit uneducated, you could start your journey alone, and he could eventually follow.The last option would be similar to my own.  

Then eventually building a portfolio of multi units like yourself.