Never heard that term, but I worked as a unlicense assistant, licensed assistant, agent and broker.

@Zachary HelferI don't know OH laws but there has been quite a bit posted on BP including threads about people being fined by the state for unlicensed brokering.

I wrote a post about it on the unlicensed brokering forums titled something like "10K Assignment Fee".

The activity of wholesaling is more prevalent - larger market, higher default rates over the past years, etc - but you are beginning to see various states crack down on the practice as simply acting as an unlicensed agent.

I can be at the property to manage and be present as inspections are needed.Or does anyone have any other thoughts on how to save $$ than hiring a General Contractor (GC) who are usually expensive (up to 4 times more than an unlicensed contractor)?

being out of state, I would avoid hiring a unlicensed handy man unless he comes highly recommended by someone on Bigger Pockets or someone else that you trust. 

Of course they can't call themselves brokers because they're unlicensed and it would definitely be illegal then.

I do have 2 or 3 guys I could call to "manage" the project for me, but they are unlicensed and uninsured (more like "handymen" that I would work with on my rentals no problem, but I'm not fully comfortable doing a flip that I want to retail).  

How was I supposed to know he was unlicensed?

Depending on the local laws, it may not be legal for an unlicensed lender to charge the fee.