Looks to me like the higher rate was the trigger.

It could trigger a due-on-sale clause; if your lender is the one advising it, then they shouldn't be including that clause.

Are there any investors in the Columbus, Ohio region that would be open to future partnerships with a young, inexperienced, but eager investor?

If you can negotiate a deal that meets your criteria in today's market, then pull the trigger.

On a partnership LLC, when you do a distribution , are you offsetting account for your owner contribution , ( so what they have into it is reduced? 

Get pre approved and ready to pull the trigger but wait and see.

I know a few other individuals have purchased through partnerships as well as utilized private money.

Thankyou for the advice, priorities right now are to settle into life back home while continuing to save and network until I’m ready to pull the trigger on my first deal ( maybe once the uncertainty of COVID 19 has settled ) I think I often fall into the trap a lot of youngsters do of wanting flash new cars way before you can realistically afford them. 

House hack, fix and flip,  Owner finance, Partnerships, Hard money, family members, there are many ways it invest without banks.

I am working on a partnership with a local homeowner.