After talking to a client after multiple follow ups she finally began opening up to me and said she wouldn’t mind selling it to me, only issue is there is a lis penden that was filled from 2018 and the original lady she said she was going to sell it to(also the tenant)couldn’t afford the property anymore, after her husband of the time passing and still can’t.

I see Greensboro and Winston Salem are more affordable, any other suggestions?

I'm in the Lansing area and the prices out here are MUCH more affordable than Grand Rapids, if you're looking to start smaller with your first couple investments. 

its a great rental market and very affordable city to invest in.

The only ones that we can afford are either in Abbotsford, Langley, Maple Ridge, Chilliwack.

If you have worked with someone reliable and affordable that is in the Southern Wisconsin Area, please reply to this post with your recommendation, it would be greatly appreciated. 

You aren't doing them a favor by leading them to believe they can afford something above their budget.

If you can afford to move and are prepared to live in the smaller unit, then you can "wait things out" until the market corrects and purchase something else at a profitable margin.  

Because they are typically more affordable and the value add is in creating the second unit or turning it into a duplex (or SFR + ADU). 

I have zero retirement savings and am eager to start building a passive-income portfolio so I am not a burden to my child.One of my biggest hurdles is that I need to boost my income so that in the bank's eyes I can afford the mortgage payment BEFORE collecting any rent.