Pre-covid, one could find and acquire adequate traditional cash flow deals, but unfortunately, that is no longer the case. 

In the intervening years, we bought and sold a couple houses (primary residences) that needed work and basically through sheer dumb luck we won the appreciation lottery.

and implying that you would offer cash, then figure out financing (hard money, friend, relative, lottery winnings) before closing.

I note similar town-homes with traditional tenants rent for $1,200 in the area.The Third property is next-door to the first, and the details are the same.

Is there anything that would make it difficult for us to get a traditional loan after?

However, looks like you're missing the part where the homeowner (seller) gets a piece of that option fee, and what you're talking about is a variation from a traditional lease option, so you'll need to do things a little bit different to account for those variations.Look at it this way - if I'm going to offer you (tenant / Leasee) a 2 yr lease option at 200k:Leasee is going to make a down payment of $20k  (this can be whatever you negotiate).Principal is now $180kMonthly rent payments of $1,300 for 2 years.  

Bridge lenders offer a non-traditional form of financing often referred to as ‘bridge loans’ or ‘hard money’ loans.

Within that year you could refinance to a traditional mortgage and then move out.

Or perhaps I can talk to other lender (like B2R) who more focus on the bankability of the apartment instead of focusing much on my personal DTI as most traditional banks do.

My original plan was to do it through traditional wholesaling.