Sure, you can classify yourself as a real estate professional or setup a property management component and pay yourself a salary that could convert that passive income to earned income, but it generally does not make sound financial sense to do so.The gig work could potentially support a Solo 401k.  

That specific neighborhood is definately one of the least desirable in the city, although there may be some decent rental properties in the area.

Most definately.  

Ocala is definately a hot market right now.

Things like, but not limited to, taking distributions, funding the corporation, corporate formalities and defining payroll -- details on the process and gotchas.

That is speculating and not investing.Numbers work going in and the rest is icing on the cake if it happens and if not you hit your goals anyway.It seems the primary reason you are buying is for a home for the family to live in so the investment portion seems like a much less important detail than the emotional component from what you have said so far.Maybe just view this property as a happy family home purchase and then if you like the area once you live there look around for properties where you buy just off of investment from the additional cash flow with the low mortgage payment.

Please define what you mean by; "too crowded" as in would be buyers vs opportunities? 

All of the major components can be and are outsourced or spec'ed out to 3rd party OEM's. 

These people are full-time and the biggest players in your market.I would either do an LLC partnership with an exhibit A JV agreement that defines the roles and expectations.

My point is you must define your goals much better before you anyone can respond to your post for information.