Do you want to be an agent for your personal investing purposes only, Want to work primarily with investors, or do you actually want to sell homes to homeowners. 

Not a bad idea, maybe Ill invite everyone from this thread to my backyard when i get the patio build done this summer :-)  Or someone @Ryan Arth ;-) could organize an informal akron BP meetup at the Mustard Seed Highland Square, mezzenaine, indoor-outdoor options ... coffee wine beer organic vegetable juices something for everyone 

You are just going to have to get a new job and if its in the same field as you were just in then getting approved should not be an issue. 

Even with her limited income I would think you could still be an accommodator on her mortgage if you wanted to pull more money out or just go 1% ownership to be able to deduct interest.

If you decide to rent out rooms, this could be an option for one of the rooms. 

Would love to meet you over coffee next sometime week.

I think it would be an ok block for a buy and hold, but that block does not have the ...not sure how to say it...the beauty of some of the other blocks, thus will not draw the higher prices some of the other blocks will draw.One thing though to be aware of is where the historical district boundaries are.

If you are going to owner finance, you are also going to need to be an MLO and licensed as a lender in Texas.

Most of the online classes require frequent authentication to note that you are spending the required time on the material so audiobooks may not be an option.  

Some of these neighborhoods I listed can be a little rough, so I look for an independent coffee shop/cafe, coop grocery stores, and trendy bars moving in.