All but 6 (including the one I'm buying) are owned by two large corporations that rent them out.  

However, since I am new to this I'm looking for a hard money lender that's not associated with one of houstons large corporations.

Phil:Have a look at the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) offerings for immigrants (and residents).

Team members can help you get things done for you  and form submittal of new equity form some type of corporation or a LLC.  

@Jeremy Geyer I would strongly suggest you establishing a Corporate Entity such as a S Corp or a LLC.

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:(1) “Real estate broker” or “broker” means (A) any person, partnership, association, limited liability company or corporation which acts for another person or entity and for a fee, commission or other valuable consideration, lists for sale, sells, exchanges, buys or rents, or offers or attempts to negotiate a sale, exchange, purchase or rental of, an estate or interest in real estate, or a resale of a mobile manufactured home, as defined in subdivision (1) of section 21-64, or collects or offers or attempts to collect rent for the use of real estate, and (B) any person, partnership, association, limited liability company or corporation employed by or on behalf of the owner or owners of lots or other parcels of real estate, at a stated salary, upon commission, upon a salary and commission basis or otherwise to sell such real estate, or any parts thereof, in lots or other parcels, and who sells or exchanges, or offers, attempts or agrees to negotiate the sale or exchange of, any such lot or parcel of real estate;

I plan on keeping my corporate job and invest on the side so the main reason for licensure was for access to the MLS and being able to investigate listed properties on my own and of course, market and sell my own properties.  

I plan on keeping my corporate job and invest on the side so the main reason for licensure was for access to the MLS and being able to investigate listed properties on my own and of course, market and sell my own properties.

Lack of understanding and a good CPA IMO...Work w/ a firm that specializes in working with corporations...not some old guy that works out of his house...

Look in the middle of the country at secondary and tertiary markets with stable and growing economies that are relatively diverse and not at the mercy of one large corporation.