An official unlicensed assistant has access to the MLS.Crystal, I love this idea of becoming an assistant to an investor-focused agent and I might be a good candidate for that sort of work.

Plus, Zillow, Rentler and the other real estate platforms tend to have all sorts of unnecessary hoops to jump through for landlords, and I find a lot of their design very un-intuitive (I remember spending waaayyy too much time just trying to figure out simple things in Rentler).  ...why can't they make it easier?

And with that, the investors have to hold themselves accountable for whom they selected, ever wisely or foolishly, to invest there $ behind. 

This sort of deal could go south very easily and for that reason I stayed away.What would you do? 

Quote from @Nik Farooqui: Hello All-My name is Nik and I am sort of making a comeback to real estate investing.

And even there, ready options exist where persons "could" do it all for pennies on the dollar of this prevailing fee structure and still that vast majority select the prevailing structure of things. 

Tons of jobs and growth which allow for better tenant selection, low crime/safe, etc.

The first being - don't bring your friends or family into the mix :)Since it sounds like you're pretty solidified in your friend moving in, and it could be a good first roomie, so just to get your feet wet... i'll double down on Laura's advice - do a lease, for the legalities, but i also highly recommend some sort of written (we call it a) Room Mate Agreement.

Via LLC or through a syndication of some sort?

I have a friend who is further along on the path (has done 5-6 of her own) who has offered to help as a consultant of sorts.