I also would note that the renovations completed upgrade the home: Recessed lighting, granite counter tops, new cabinets, new toilets for the entire house, new flooring for the whole main level. 

If you are planning on self-managing the properties, then I suggest starting with the 1-2 properties that are the "middle" level SFH or a small multi-family (duplex / triplex).

Consult with a professional who understands tax implications for foreign investors; In terms of US, few things to consider: since you will generate an active income - which is ordinary, you will need to choose entity that will save you taxes; consider how much income you expect to generate in a first few years; the state; for example with CA you have additional entity level taxes - for example tax on LLC starts at 800 per year even if you have no activity.

I believe Zillow has a county level Home Price Index.

Kind of a mindset question, and maybe it all depends on your comfort level.

. - I personally feel that wholesalers in my area are marking up the properties beyond a profitable level for the flipper - i have deals emailed to me all the time but they are all $25-$40 grand too high for the numbers to work - YET THEY SELL SAME DAY!

Talk to your uncle, what level of payment can he afford?

If anyone has ideas on low level investments I could use to build capital until I can afford real estate,would love that.

Have to build some level of trust and set responsibility in a good partnership that goes both ways.

If you want to scale to some very large level, that's difficult to do on your own with single family housing, and is usually the reason people switch.