Go wtih what works - but intelligently.We offer a free month of rent, but to avoid desperate people, we credit 50% towards their 2nd month (to make sure they can afford 1st month rent + SD) and then credit the other 50% the 5th month.

I am considering doing this with a 0% APR credit card to avoid a loan. 

If I have several options, I would prefer a HELOC with no initial draw requirements (i.e. to establish a literal line of credit that I have no specific short term plans to use), i.e. not something like the better.com HELOC. 

I'm wondering if a BLOC could help to build my business credit.

Many note funds take on debt from larger lenders or lines of credit against their assets.

If you really can get it rent-ready for 15-18k then market rent at $1400 isn't terrible.

Many community banks will give you credit for proforma rents.  

Quote from @Jaycee Greene: Assuming you pay asking price, I'd estimate the down payment for something like that using a hard money loan (HML) would be around 40% of the purchase price and your monthly payment would be $2,600 with an interest rate in the low 7% range (probably need a 700+ credit score to get that).

It is debt you are obligating yourself to and lenders and the federal government think of it that way.Missing a payment doesn't mess up your credit, but it does mess up your day when you get sued or prosecuted. 

If Don fails to pay, the bank will certainly go after me, it will at least ruin my credit and will likely take me to court.