I figured I start in my own backyard Raleigh,NC, the surrounding areas, and go from there.

Therefore I'm now looking to start investing in RE in the U.S - prefer neighboring states like New York (Buffalo?)

If this is a route you plan to go, I might also get a lawyer on board from the start and allow them to either negotiate with the insurance company or file the lawsuit against the agent and brokerage.

I do not usually avoid this type of confrontation but I would not take on this fight and I have had on-going cases for 3 years (new one started before previous is settled).

Interacting with other like-minded people here at the local REIAs will definitely help you with getting started out.

Of course the bank says "no problem", I start the process etc, then after credit pull and everything state "thing's have changed and you cannot own more than 3 investment properties" so now I'm at a standstill and they want to push me to commercial side, which in this case is requiring them to take my first and have to refi the balance and lose my rate and then tap a HELOC afterwards at commercial terms.

I'm hoping to start the snowball effect and buy some more soon.

I own a small real estate brokerage in CO and I'm also looking to start a mortgage company or at least having some staff members licensed as loan officers. 

We both attended University of Central Florida and lived in a house that my parents bought for my sister and I while we got through college, and the idea of student rentals intrigued us.

Well, just to start, you are the one buying it not them.