Can both of us be on title as owners but only 1 of us apply for the mortgage? 

We did put a wall outlet in our newest rental by the bar in the kitchen that has an electrical socket and two usb charging ports for phones and the like, pretty neat.

I understand the difference of having one or not but the question is, can I still have partners on a deal who I can go in with, neither of us being affiliated with an investment LLC?

We rent in the Midwest and the laws are different than the east or west coast.The nice thing about these forums is that we share ideas from all over the country and it truly helps us be better at our job and opens up our minds to new possibilities.

@Jason Rego A MIC/private/B lender may be a good option for you. 

The cons would be both of us being inexperienced it might be easier making a mistake.

But there are plenty of lenders that will help us be successful and that's really what we need as a partner.  

(I don't see us being able to recruit anyone for the job....)Any other ideas or referrals are appreciated!!!

I do think a Nest is a nice touch in general, maybe some USB outlets in the kitchen.In general, smart home items are of interest to men, and women make home buying decisions, overwhelmingly. 

With us being out of state it is hard to walk through.