But if I am misreading your comment and you are able to navigate transactions on your own, then these can be ways to get properties.As for the financing side, talk to lenders.  

We need help navigating this field and would greatly appriciate any help. 

Laundry Machine soap, Dryer sheets, Bar of Soap, Shampoo, toothpaste, etc.

One property that I bought had a judgment from where the owner got in a bar room fight and injured somebody who sued him for medial bills and got a judgment.Un recorded liens like welfare, DPW, and some state liens are not recorded.  

What are the snares or harder things to navigate that aren't so obvious when starting?

Are there any hard money lenders or alternative solutions that could help navigate this dilemma?

This to me seems akin to going to a bar to pick up chicks.

Building a supportive network can make all the difference as you navigate this exciting journey!

The cons are it's difficult to navigate the inspections (at least in the county we were in) and you're dealing with a class of tenant that is traditionally more difficult.

This should be a pretty low bar to overcome for a property, and any upside is appreciated, of course.