Since each state has specific statutory and case law regarding easements, as you already know, you'll likely need some in-depth consultation with a competent attorney. 

If he can perform and you want to keep working with him (i personally wouldn't), I'd restructure it to be more disassociated, ie maybe let him have the business and consult for him and get a percent share..if you trust that he will pay you. 

The business model to develop Community Association Manager (CAM) licensing legislation (and other HOA legislation): 1) legislators consult with the Community Association Institute (CAI)) to craft a Bill aimed at mitigating abusive practices of property managers who are the very folks the CAI represents 2) CAI lobbyist and their CAI “dependable” legislators become Bill sponsors 3) the Bill is assigned to Committees with CAI “dependable” legislators 4) the Bill becomes law with little to no home owner input, full of promoting CAI interests, and heavy on fees and costs and processes imposed on CAMs and 5) the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) implements licensing rules highly reflective of CAI efforts but fail to even contain explicit language for CAMs to obey State law or an HOAs governing laws or for CAMs to report observed violation of the law thus ensuring oversight is empty from the home owner’s perspective.

I will consult with my ground team there and see what they have to say.

I'm currently working as an actuarial consultant in the health care sector, but my long term goal is to transition into real estate investing full-time.

I've been listening to Bryan Ellis for a few months now and have had a couple of consultations with him as well.

I'd suggest listening to BP Podcast 109 and consulting an attorney.

@Jennifer PereiraYour post above illustrates precisely why it is advisable to consult with an accountant and attorney and plan before purchasing your first rental.  

The de minimis exemption was clearly defined in commentary as applying only in situations where someone who had owner occupied a residence have the option to seller finance a home they had occupied and chose to sell and finance, and, in the case of inheritance of a residence or residences (up to four) to sell and owner finance those homes.Given that stricter Federal Law supersedes less strict state laws (and visa versa) any of the older state laws on the subject are now mute.Rishel Consulting Group is a consultancy on chattel seller finance nationwide.

I graduated Ohio State University as a Finance major in 2012 and then went into Technology (SAP) Consulting.