if someone has extensive knowledge, a verifiable track record of success, and excellent credit it IS possible to purchase real estate with no personal capital committed.

Track expenses, keep receipts, and understand which costs are deductible (mortgage interest, property taxes, repairs, depreciation on the rental portion).

When it comes to pulling credit and background checks, TransUnion SmartMove is a solid option for independent landlords—it’s easy to use, FCRA-compliant, and the applicant pays the fee directly.

Make sure their credit score requirement is 650, if it's a good area.

Start networking now with local investors, lenders, and agents so you can build relationships and a track record, even before you buy.

TurboTenant provides credit reports, criminal background checks, and eviction history—all paid by the applicant.

You'll want to be sure to track your time for everything related to the property so you qualify for material participation.Anyway, congrats on the STR.

While a separate checking/savings/dba acct may make things easier to track, an LLC is unnecessary at this point.   

If you want to focus heavily on lending, you might consider working for a bank for a while in credit analysis or "apprentice" with a formally-credit-trained lender.

It’s important that you trust the sponsor and also keep track what is happening.