We would have been able to live in our houses rent free until they were demolished, likely 3 years +... so it was pretty much a million bucks on the table. 

Get an offer on the table, find a good replacement and then execute the sale and purchase. 

Real estate is basically a 3 legged table: time to work, money to invest and knowledge to contribute.

In college, my roommates and I once let a 4th individual move into our apartment and sleep under the ping pong table for $100 a month plus 1/4 of the utility, cable and landline (showing my age).

So this could be bringing them a deal, being a private lender or just bringing some type of skill to the table that they don't have.

He has moved into the house at $1150/mo rent for the month of November and we are scheduled to close November 30th on the lot with a slab and driveway (cleared other than that) on 0.16 acres.At the closing table, I will buy the lot for $15,000.

So your best bet would be finding some type of partner (parent, older sibling, relative, etc) that could bring the money/financing to the table and you could bring the deal.

People will pay you a finder's fee or a broker's fee but the only time that people will JV with you is if you are bringing experience, knowledge, money, or something else valuable to the table.

They spun up the bank account, deposited the funds and communicated directly with both closing tables and wired funds both ways.   

Slowing yourself down by exactly 5 years where as in 2 you could have 5 houses and have zero of your own money on the table.