I'd suggest also looking into any down payment assistance programs provided through your local community/city.

The city has had various programs to dispose of these proprieties over time, SCOPE, Project 5000, Receivership and Vacants to Value.

I'll also look into the mentor program.

That being said, I always put them through my entire process, credit/background check through my program (don't trust others, too easy to fake with photoshop etc), 3 x rent, license, and than my 18 page lease .

There are a lot of NOO programs out there for REFI

Best of luck with your program.

Re Casa Finance is out of Columbus and has a solid program. 

I met a retiree who told me she spent $55,000 on his program and it had been a year and she hadn't received her first deal.  

If I'm doing a lease option or lease purchase, I connect them with my credit repair program.

Many lenders can go 10 or 15 years, Freddie has a great SBL program for deals between $1mm and $5mm, FHA can go up to 35 years, and HUD can go up to 40 years.