This is due in large part to major corporations like Intel, Honda, Nationwide Children's Hospital, and Wexner Medical Center investing heavily in the region and creating numerous job opportunities.

Personally- I’d have her rent a senior apartment for less than 2k a month, pay the insurance (1k is good for someone with medical issues) and save the rest into something making 5%+.

I have to develop my skill to recognize the different classes of properties.What would be the best way to go about investing remote?

Between your work ethic and construction skills, you can kill it in real estate. 

You will have to have good negotiating skills in regards to liens and getting the abatements you'll need to make a profit. 

Depending on your social skills and the amount of money you can invest each year, you might be able to get them to keep you in mind before they market the properties. 

That was great to get a baseline in all the areas before taking higher level courses in my major.All paths are good, but when it comes to RE investing, I think marketing and accounting are the most useable skills that will lead to success. 

In general, what are the three most important skills that make real estate investors successful?

Very skilled in finding off market deals.  

Window units are common in the mid-west but we've had people who have medical or even light manufacturing equipment they use inside.