All of my best deals have all been introduced to me by agents/brokers and the occasional wholesaler.Also, I constantly monitor the MLS and setup alerts in different areas I am farming and make aggressive offers quickly and methodically.

I NEVER pay tax on this money afterward and neither do my heirs as it will be a death benefit to them.Do your own research and I believe you will find the Bank on Yourself method to be one of the best ways to Finance your realestate deals in the future and coupled with a self-directed Roth Realestate IRA how can you go wrong.

Will a rent credit trigger the Frank-Dodd Act, or qualify as some sort of securities trading?

I am fairly well-versed in construction methods and materials, but short on time and manpower, so-to-speak.  

I guess what I forgot to put in my OP was any tips or tracks of the RE Pros Trade I can benefit from.

Best advise talk to title CO explain what you want to accomplish, and have them propose a method they are comfortable with that keeps everything legal. 

Banks are holding stuff back and releasing it methodically to keep from flooding (and crashing) the market.

Plus it might incentivize you to look at trade school after college :)

I am interested in using this method of investing, but how can I manage construction from another state?

Regular dialogue with workers on site, building rapport, and asking lots of questions may keep one better in tune with things.You can also require daily reports from all trades and a contractual requirement to report known problems immediately.In both cases, be prepared to pay for these things and neither will guarantee success.And if not doing so already, make sure budgets include appropriate contingencies.