Traditional investing takes longer because you will have to build up your capital all over again.

First few loans were with traditional banks but then I wasn't able to qualify anymore due to each of the rentals being viewed as liabilities instead of assets.

You put a mortgage lien on the house but the buyer is an otherwise traditional buyer.

We travel and stay in Airbnbs, but I always seek out traditional listings that are hosted by the owner.

So if you have a community that has easier transportation to town or business hubs (Cranberry, SouthPointe, Moon, etc.) then you have a higher livable rate even if the traditional mill or mining jobs have dried up.

Is there anything specifically I should know about row homes that differ from traditional single or multi family properties?

Traditional bank financing and received a cash out for the renovations.

There are traditionally unkempt areas that are gentrifying and surrounding areas are ripe for money making fix and flip opportunities. 

If you think your credit will make it difficult to obtain a traditional mortgage, consider offering a land contract or a "subject to" contract to the seller. 

These meetings are more designed to gather people that struggle with wholesaling.Indeed... other than struggling wholesalers you have the newbies that get convinced REI meetings is the answer, just like you are being convinced now... then the other REI frequenter is your traditional hard money lender that tries to make money on innocent young investors eager to start, and anyone else that tries to make money off of it somehow.Lastly you have a few cash buyers that know nothing about marketing that desperately need a property to flip.