In that trust you put a LLC for your business operations.

Owner pays utilities now, however it has 5 meters, and I would change that, generating a possible 7k increase yearly in income. 

Create a marketing plan, deploy your capital to generate some motivated seller leads, wholesale a few deals and SAVE the money you make to create a war chest to go after bigger and better things. 

I was charged with a Felony Misdemeanor, operating a short-term rental without a license. 

Its all about running your numbers.It sounds like your long-term goal is to have a large portfolio of rentals.Therefore, if the ARV of a property will generate a strong profit for you and the cash flow isn't great (or you can use your profits to purchase another property with better cash flow), sell it.If a property generates great cash flow for you, keep it.

In addition to foreclosure auctions check out public auctions, there are a number of real estate auctioneers that operate in the Baltimore area.

If it does only have info for those states would you happen to know another lead generating site?

You need to buy right going in generating cash flow and upside is icing on the cake and not what is needed to make the investment work.   

The article compared a scenario in which an investor would own a few properties outright to generate the same income that someone who has many cash flowing properties financed would earn.

Generating about $30k or so income rental income a year in the SFBay area.