Be sure to attend local meetups (there are so many).Look forward to meeting you in the near future.

I have asked this question before as well, and the advice given to me was to join local investors club(s) and also to attend local auctions in order to connect with anyone who is buying.

Attend if you want to feel like you are advancing your RE education, but leave your credit cards at home.

Somewhere in there, ask the postmaster front desk attendant that the next the owner comes in to call you because its urgent  or find out info from the postmaster about the said person. 

Attend homeownership counseling; Receive a homeownership certificate; Ratify a sales contract within 120 days and settle within 180 days; Obtain a mortgage from a lender; Pass both a Housing Quality Standards and Private Home Inspection; and Contribute 3% toward the purchase (1% must be from personal funds).

@Vickiel WoodardFirst, congratulations on taking some VERY positive steps under difficult personal situation.I would guess from your post that you have some expenses to incur for repair, rehab and carrying costs, before you begin receiving income.If your intent is to hold as rentals for good cash flow, a fix n flip type lender (where most SFR investor lending is available), will probably not be interested unless they believe you plan to sell after rehab.As you stated, you won't qualify for a conventional or institutional loan, not only because of credit but also because of loan size.The suggestions made by posters so far are some version of(1) sell as is one, two, or all(2) sell one and use proceeds to fix up other twoNot bad advice, depending on your goals.These lower end houses will sell for a VERY low price in relation to their rental income because (1) tenant types will most likely be a problem or at least be high maintenance, i.e. chasing them for rent, high turnover, life crisis, employment problems, etc, and (2) unless area undergoes gentrification price increases will be non existent (3) effective outside property management is probably not available.So, if you are able and willing to manage the property and tenants yourself, keeping the properties as cash flow rentals can be a VERY lucrative activity.I would find an experienced contractor, and talk him into either (1) partnering with you by providing his services as a contribution for buying an equity interest in the houses or (2) accepting a lien on the properties in lieu of immediate cash payment to perform the necessary rehab and either making monthly payments to him to pay off the lien once the units are rented or paying him off by refinancing once the properties are rehabbed and income is established, though as mentioned a loan would be somewhat difficult to accomplish.An alternative is to attend your local REIA meeting, and discuss a partnership with some of the more passive investors.BTW, are you paying typical credit card interest rates of 12-24%, or did you get an introductory deal giving you a low or no interest loan for 6 -12 months?  

I was tasked with attending HOA meetings to represent my folks, and it was complete buffoonery.

I have, however, phoned the police non-emergency number, advised them I'm looking at an investment property in X neighborhood or near X cross streets that I'm about to attend alone and asked if there has been any recent violent criminal activity I should be concerned about.

Attend seminars , classes - Online Or local.

Start attending some of the area meetups, align yourself with experienced, trusted professionals that may be willing to JV or partner with you until you are more confident and have a little more knowledge and experience under your belt.