After I realized the squatters ran off due to the police being involved I contacted a property preservation company and had them change the locks on the home and place a lock box on the door.

I've had a limiting belief that you had to have a lot of money to get involved with investing. 

What they don't preach is how much hard work is involved, or how reputation is EVERYTHING....

Most people overreact to situations because their emotions are involved.

They don't come cheap and with all the carrying costs involved in an escrow company, you will have to charge premium pricing to get premium people.

The obvious answer is networking, but what can you do beyond that and looking at financials involved in their deals?

Glad you're here.There are lots of ways to learn more and getting involved in the local real estate investor community in DC is something I'd also put on the beginner list.

What is involved in this that I might be missing?

We're looking do more involved projects and a family member has expressed interest in investing some money with us on a per project basis. 

The world you are and want to be involved in is too intrusive to be something you and her disagree on in principle.