NoOhio Revised Code4735.01 Real estate broker definitions.As used in this chapter:(A) "Real estate broker" includes any person, partnership, association, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or corporation, foreign or domestic, who for another, whether pursuant to a power of attorney or otherwise, and who for a fee, commission, or other valuable consideration, or with the intention, or in the expectation, or upon the promise of receiving or collecting a fee, commission, or other valuable consideration does any of the following:(1) Sells, exchanges, purchases, rents, or leases, or negotiates the sale, exchange, purchase, rental, or leasing of any real estate;(2) Offers, attempts, or agrees to negotiate the sale, exchange, purchase, rental, or leasing of any real estate;(3) Lists, or offers, attempts, or agrees to list, or auctions, or offers, attempts, or agrees to auction, any real estate;(4) Buys or offers to buy, sells or offers to sell, or otherwise deals in options on real estate;(5) Operates, manages, or rents, or offers or attempts to operate, manage, or rent, other than as custodian, caretaker, or janitor, any building or portions of buildings to the public as tenants;(6) Advertises or holds self out as engaged in the business of selling, exchanging, purchasing, renting, or leasing real estate;(7) Directs or assists in the procuring of prospects or the negotiation of any transaction, other than mortgage financing, which does or is calculated to result in the sale, exchange, leasing, or renting of any real estate;(8) Is engaged in the business of charging an advance fee or contracting for collection of a fee in connection with any contract whereby the broker undertakes primarily to promote the sale, exchange, purchase, rental, or leasing of real estate through its listing in a publication issued primarily for such purpose, or for referral of information concerning such real estate to brokers, or both, except that this division does not apply to a publisher of listings or compilations of sales of real estate by their owners;(9) Collects rental information for purposes of referring prospective tenants to rental units or locations of such units and charges the prospective tenants a fee.

Hypothetically your rich uncle could loan you the money and secure it against the house legally, but he cant be engaged in that activity as a business without the proper license and without following some pretty strict rules.Very few HMLs are licensed to loan to owner occupants. 

I also really like a challenge, which I feel is missing right now.  

Investing out of your area can be challenging, but it can be done and done successfully.  

I think the 2nd property is likely going to be the most challenging to acquire, although if the mortgage on the first place can be covered with rents, it should be possible.  

"once you add value, you get paid" determining how exactly to do that at times can be a challenge. 

I am a proud father of 2 and I am engaged to a magnificent woman.

However, from a risk management standpoint, one lender knows all your business and one lender could face challenges.

I stepped away from the forums for a few days to work on real deals.Re-reading this thread and your posts in particular, I think your biggest challenge is that you automatically get associated with all the other would-be real estate people.Part of the problem is your message.

Continue to keep us engaged with your progress as it motivates us to do likewise.Awesome!