Or the listing agent.If you have a provision on assigning leases to the buyer and transferring security deposits in the Offer To Purchase (in Wisconsin that's part of the standard form) the title company will put the SD as a line item on the closing statement.

Wondering about putting my banking info into these and if anyone has any personal experience with any of them.

@Kyle Schreur you can ultimatley do whatever you'd like, but whatever you do and whatever the arrangment should be put into writing.  

It's a lot quicker, and you can minimize the risk substantially.

We have final site compliance plans in Columbus Ohio for large development projects and the only people that can do them are either an architect or a civil engineer. an architect is more versatile but the real knowledge is a civil engineer but you need to be able to stamp it for accuracy and you are putting your professional experience on the line. it has nothing to do with zoning. civil engineers don't really help with zoning that would be done by an entitlement group or zoning attorney. degree is probably mandatory before you can become a professional engineer but yes there is incredible demand for those services in our market. for subdivision development as well this is amazing skillset to have.  

We are looking to put 20-25% down, which means we are targeting properties in the $100K-$125K range.

Of course after a few deals, he/you will gt better at putting a number on the project, but you may have slim or no profit on at least a couple of jobs.I had decades of experience and a partner with unlimited deep pockets, and still lost money on a flip!

Rehabs can have great upside but the risk when education is low can be detrimental and burn you on investing before you hit your stride. 

Quote from @Jo Benson: Thanks very much, Don Konipol, for putting so much effort into your reply.

Your family and friend has certainly put you in a tough spot.