Only public (wall Street) or local mortgage broker.

Having the buddy live in it fills a need for onsite security for it, and to have someone who can help with the rehab without having to be an employee.  

multiple partners In one deal and the partners don't know each other is running up on a securities offering or deal you may want to tread lightly there.do what @Brie Schmidt  does compartmentalize them one investor one deal.. no pooling pooling of investors into one deal is a BAD idea unless you have a PPM structure and adhere to the securities rules.. you take on a ton of risk doing that. and way to much for just little vanilla rentals.

They even offer free classes in real estate related law that I think are open to the public.

That's why we accountants have the most job security after nurses and drug dealers.

Seems doomed to fail in any sort of market correction. maybe its like publicly traded companies that have Billion dollar valuations but make no money :) 

@Stephen Diaz I am in the same boat as you are currently and the way I solved my issue was I went through a hard money lender and then took out a secured personal loan to come up with the down payment.

In order to increase my savings aside from my day job, I decided to become certified to be a Public notary to witness mortgage signings.

Here is the ONLY way I would hold it...If you do not have any other good applicants that can take the unit sooner, I would take a non-refundable binder payment equal to one-month's rent NOW, then all of the move-in fees (first/last/security/pet fees) when you sign the lease for October 1st, which should be within a week. 

If they have to leave sooner, tell them that they'll be responsible for rent until you're able to secure a new tenant.