Hire an assistant to screen tenants, show properties, and delegate maintenance calls to above mentioned trades... basically handle it all early on and then build into employing those who manage your properties?

So if you are still uncertain, could just make a lease with employer and give that employer rights to sublet to the person, thus your lease is with employer and there on hook to you, and they can deal with the person and all that liability. 

But, as others have said, cash flow in this environment is tough and for new investors, they can be baited into cash flow now which means more difficult tenants, lower C to D areas, and expectant capital expenditures.

I am a Licensed Real Estate Associate Broker in Colorado who has been reading everything I can get my hands on as well as running through scenarios with my employing broker.

Columbus is also home to OSU, which constantly develops real estate, employs lots of jobs, and attracts students from the US and internationally to attend. 

An LLC and IRS Employer Identification Number can be used to open a business bank account. 

Stay away from Chicago unless you are required by your employer to live in Chicago. 

I almost wonder if this question is a plant of some sort just to gauge the types of responses it would generate, so I'll take the bait in the even that this is a bot or troll (full disclosure, my career is not in any way related to the success or failure of the RE market).

It's great that you already have a home and potential ADU too since being self-employed in the arts can also have extra hurdles just getting approved for a loan. 

They sent a very professional slide pitch deck that showed all of their justifications around that specific market, e.g. employment market, housing shortage data, the new developments in the area, the air bnb data, etc. etc.They also stated the numbers were conservative (7 year to reach the target returns) and that likely it will be year 4-5.